The word liver
traces its origins to a number of languages, including Old English and German.
It may mean to “fatten up.” This seems particularly apt, given the rise of
fatty liver disease in the United States.
The liver produces bile, which is necessary for the
digestion of fats. Bile passes through a duct system that rivals the Alaskan
pipeline. Most of the bile pours into the small intestine, where it breaks down
fat. Some bile is stored in the gall bladder.
The immune system depends on the liver. Drugs and alcohol
are metabolized by the liver. The liver is an important player in the metabolism of
carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
To “fatten up” just doesn’t do the liver justice. It seems
to do a little of EVERYTHING.
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