The liver has a lot of vital tasks including ridding the body of toxins. Learn about problems that can affect the liver and how to avoid them.

The diagnosis of liver disease is made by liver function tests, groups of blood tests, that can readily show the extent of liver damage. If infection is suspected, then other serological tests will be carried out.

All the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. The liver processes this blood and breaks down, balances, and creates the nutrients and also metabolizes drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body or that are nontoxic.

liver, the largest gland in the body, a spongy mass of wedge-shaped lobes that has many metabolic and secretory functions.

It is located beneath the rib cage in the right upper abdomen. The liver filters all of the blood in the body and breaks down poisonous substances, such as alcohol and drugs. The liver also produces bile, a fluid that helps digest fats and carry away waste.

Explore the vital functions of your liver, from detoxification to aiding digestion.

Liver blood tests are used to detect liver diseases such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, and liver failure. Understand the result with high, low, and normal results of AST and ALT. Symptoms of elevated or high liver enzymes in the blood include fever, abdominal pain, poor appetite, itching, and nausea. Elevated levels of AST and ALT may signify the level of liver damage and varies by person.