what are three main functions of the human liver?
- detoxification: liver cells contain enzymes which break down toxins for example catalase, this enzyme is responsible for converting toxin hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. enzymes can detoxify molecules in different ways such as through oxidation, reduction, methylation or combination with another molecule so that the resulting molecule is non toxic.2) storage of glycogen - glycogen is an important energy store that can be broken down to release glucose with the addition of enzymes, glycogen forms granules in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes (liver cells) 3) formation of urea (a waste product) - excess amino acids not incorporated into peptide chains are toxic due to the presence of their amino group, in the liver amino acids undergo deamination to form ammonia and a veto acid, then through the ornithine cycles, urea is produced (a waste product excreted through urination).
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