According to Scot (2015), the liver is the largest
organ in the body weighting approximately 1.5kg and is vital for life. It is
located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen tucked underneath the ribs.
It is responsible for many important functions such as processing nutrients,
breakdown of toxins and production of essential proteins. It processes digested
food from the intestine by breaking it down into glucose and converting into
glycogen for energy storage.
organ in the body weighting approximately 1.5kg and is vital for life. It is
located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen tucked underneath the ribs.
It is responsible for many important functions such as processing nutrients,
breakdown of toxins and production of essential proteins. It processes digested
food from the intestine by breaking it down into glucose and converting into
glycogen for energy storage.
Another key function is the removal of waste products
from the blood. Some are concentrated into bile which is stored in the gall
bladder and then is discharged into the duodenum. Bile also play a part in
digestion by emulsifying fats. The liver plays an important role in combating
infection and in protein synthesis and metabolism.
from the blood. Some are concentrated into bile which is stored in the gall
bladder and then is discharged into the duodenum. Bile also play a part in
digestion by emulsifying fats. The liver plays an important role in combating
infection and in protein synthesis and metabolism.
Chronic liver disease is a disease process of the
liver that involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of
the liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Chronic liver disease
is characterized by scarring and destruction of the liver tissue. Early
changes, such as “fatty liver” (a build up a fat in the liver cells) can
progress via inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) to irreversible
damage (cirrhosis). At this point, the liver will not be able to regenerate
itself though further damage can be averted.
liver that involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of
the liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Chronic liver disease
is characterized by scarring and destruction of the liver tissue. Early
changes, such as “fatty liver” (a build up a fat in the liver cells) can
progress via inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring (fibrosis) to irreversible
damage (cirrhosis). At this point, the liver will not be able to regenerate
itself though further damage can be averted.
Taking into account, the public health, economic and
social view points, chronic liver disease represents a great problem for a
majority of the world as it leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality. It
represents the tenth cause of death in the united state, with about 25,000
annual deaths, and it is among the third leading causes of death in the African
and Asian continents. Chronic alcohol consumption is directly related to liver
damage, increasing the incidence of both cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Around 90-100% of high risk alcohol consumers will have hepatic esteatosis,
10-35% will develop hepatitis and between 8-20% will evolve to hepatic
cirrhosis (Acta, 2006).
social view points, chronic liver disease represents a great problem for a
majority of the world as it leads to an increase in morbidity and mortality. It
represents the tenth cause of death in the united state, with about 25,000
annual deaths, and it is among the third leading causes of death in the African
and Asian continents. Chronic alcohol consumption is directly related to liver
damage, increasing the incidence of both cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Around 90-100% of high risk alcohol consumers will have hepatic esteatosis,
10-35% will develop hepatitis and between 8-20% will evolve to hepatic
cirrhosis (Acta, 2006).
