Lobular Pneumonia

THE LIVER

The liver, like the salivary glands and pancreas, is an outgrowth of the digestive tube. It is the chief chemical factory of the body. The liver is not only the largest organ of the body but it has the largest number of known functions. Among them, the primary function appears to be that of storage and mobilization of food. The liver cells process the digested food, change it into substances that the body will need, then store them until they are required.

The liver is known to manufacture bile, which aids digestion. Patients in whom little bile is reaching the intestine may have difficulties in their absorption of fats. Such patients may suffer from deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. A preliminary storage place for the bile is the gallbladder. It is intimately associated with liver anatomy and liver function. However, the gallbladder has been proved to be not necessary for life. Some animals, for example horse, do not possess a gallbladder.

The detoxifying function of the liver is thought to be of importance. It is not surprising that the organ is essential to life and that diseases which impair its function are serious and sometimes fatal.