什麼是肝

脊椎動物體內最大的器官，呈楔形葉狀。肝能分泌膽汁，代謝蛋白質、碳水化合物和脂肪，貯存肝醣、維生素和其他物質，合成凝血因子，排除血液中的廢物和有毒物質，調節血容量，以及破壞老舊的紅血細胞。門靜脈攜帶血液從腸道經過膽囊、胰臟、脾臟到肝來加工處理。肝內有一個膽道系統把膽汁從肝帶到十二指腸和膽囊。肝組織是由大量肝細胞組成，肝細胞間有膽管和血管穿行。肝組織內約有60%是肝細胞，它們比其他細胞具有更大的代謝功能。第二種類型的細胞是庫普費爾氏細胞（Kupffer cell），在血細胞形成、抗體產生和吞噬異物、細胞碎屑方面扮演了重要角色。肝製造血漿蛋白質，包括白蛋白和凝血因子，併合成以改變營養物和毒素等物質，並把它們從血液中濾出。肝病包括黃疸、肝炎、肝硬化、腫瘤、血管阻塞、膿瘡和肝醣貯積病。

liver

Largest gland in the body, with several lobes. It secretes bile; metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; stores glycogen, vitamins, and other substances; synthesizes coagulation factors; removes wastes and toxic matter from the blood; regulates blood volume; and destroys old red blood cells. The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen to the liver to be processed. A duct system carries bile from the liver to the duodenum and the gallbladder. Liver tissue consists of a mass of cells tunneled with bile ducts and blood vessels. About 60% are hepatic cells, which have more metabolic functions than any other cells. A second type, Kupffer cells, play a role in blood-cell formation, antibody production, and ingestion of foreign particles and cell debris. The liver manufactures plasma proteins, including albumin and clotting factors, and synthesizes enzymes that modify substances such as nutrients and toxins, filtered from the blood. Liver disorders include jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, tumors, vascular obstruction, abscess, and glycogen-storage diseases.