The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the belly. Weighing about 3 pounds, the organ is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery to the touch. Normally you can’t feel it, because it’s protected by the rib cage.
The liver has two large sections, called the right and the left lobes. The gallbladder sits under the organ, along with parts of the pancreas and intestines. The liver and these organs work together to digest, absorb, and process food.
The liver’s main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. The organ also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. As it does so, the liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines. It also makes proteins important for blood clotting and other functions.
Infections
Related to Liver
Immune system abnormality
Diseases in which your immune system attacks certain parts of your body (autoimmune) can affect your liver. Examples of autoimmune diseases include:
An abnormal gene inherited from one or both of your parents can cause various substances to build up in your liver, resulting in damage. Genetic liver diseases include:
Cancer