Liver

Location: This largest glandular organ in the body, weighing about 3 pounds, lies on the right side of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm. It is reddish-brown in color, divided in four lobes and shaped like a football that’s flat on one side. If a part of the liver is removed, it can grow back.

Function: The liver performs a remarkable number of functions, including producing substances that break down fats, converting glucose to glycogen to power muscles, producing urea (the main component in urine), filtering harmful substances from the blood, storing vitamins and minerals and maintaining proper blood sugar levels. It also produces about 80 percent of the cholesterol in your body.

Potential problems: If the liver becomes inflamed or infected, its ability to perform these functions may be impaired. Liver disease is estimated to affect 30 million people. The most common problem is hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is spread through fecal-oral contamination, one of the reasons washing your hands after using the restroom is so important. Hepatitis B and C are spread through blood and bodily fluids. You may want to consider immunizations against hepatitis, especially if you might be exposed to other people’s blood or if you travel to areas with high rates of infection. Heavy use of alcohol or over-the-counter or prescription drugs can also damage the liver and lead to liver cancer.

— Markian Hawryluk, The Bulletin

Sources: Mama’s Health, American Liver Foundation