ORGANS

 1.LIVER

     The liver is the only organ in the body that can easily replace damaged cells, but if enough cells are lost, the liver may not be able to meet the needs of the body. 
The liver can be considered a factory; and among its many functions include the:

• production of bile that is required in the digestion of food, in particular fats;
• conversion of the extra glucose in the body into stored glycogen in liver cells; and  then converting it back into glucose when the need arises;
• production of blood clotting factors;
• production of amino acids (the building blocks for making proteins), including those used to help fight infection;
• the processing and storage iron necessary for red blood cell production;
• manufacture of cholesterol and other chemicals required for fat transport;
• conversion of waste products of body metabolism into urea that is excreted in the urine; and
• metabolization medications into their active ingredient in the body.

ULTRASOUND IMAGE OF LIVER

DISEASE SYMTOMS

The classic symptoms of liver damage include the following:

• Pale stools occur when stercobilin, a brown pigment, is absent from the stool. Stercobilin is derived from bilirubin metabolites produced in the liver.
• Dark urine occurs when bilirubin mixes with urine
• Jaundice (yellow skin and/or whites of the eyes) This is where bilirubin deposits in skin, causing an intense itch. Itching is the most common complaint by people who have liver failure. Often this itch cannot be relieved by drugs.
• Swelling of the abdomen, ankles and feet occurs because the liver fails to make albumin.
• Excessive fatigue occurs from a generalized loss of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
• Bruising and easy bleeding are other features of liver disease. The liver makes substances which help prevent bleeding. When liver damage occurs, these substances are no longer present and severe bleeding can occur.

DIAGNOSIS

     The diagnosis of liver function is made by blood tests. Liver function tests can readily pinpoint the extent of liver damage. If infection is suspected, then other serological tests are done. Sometimes, one may require an ultrasound or a CT scan to produce an image of the liver.
Physical examination of the liver is not accurate in determining the extent of liver damage. It can only reveal presence of tenderness or the size of liver, but in all cases, some type of radiological study is required to examine it.


Ultrasound liver training video