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Human Body Study

Liver

The body’s largest internal organ and its central chemical-processing plant. It is an accessory digestive organ — food does not pass through it.

The digestive tract The GI tract from mouth through oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, with liver, gallbladder and pancreas as accessory organs. Each label links to the article for that part. Mouth Esophagus Liver Stomach Gallbladder Pancreas Small intestine Large intestine The digestive tract and its accessory organs — schematic, not to scale.

Digestive role

Section titled “Digestive role”

Produces bile, a fluid that breaks large fat globules into small droplets so enzymes can digest them.

Other major roles

Section titled “Other major roles”
  • Processes absorbed nutrients; stores glucose as glycogen.
  • Detoxifies drugs, alcohol, and waste products.
  • Makes blood proteins, including clotting factors.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

The liver is a metabolic hub far beyond digestion — nearly everything absorbed from the gut passes through it first for processing.