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| Photo credit: James X - Biology Blog |
Surplus amino acids in the
bloodstream cannot be stored. They are removed by the liver and broken down
into the urea (which is the nitrogen-containing part of the amino acid) and a
sugar residue, which can be respired to release energy. The breakdown of amino
acids is called deamination.
Urea is returned to the bloodstream (into the hepatic vein) and filtered out when it reaches the kidneys.
The body treats alcohol as a
poison. The liver removes poisons, such as alcohol and drugs, from the blood
and breaks them down. Prolonged and excessive use of alcohol damages the liver
and may cause it to fail. An overdose of drugs, such as paracetamol, can result
in death due to liver failure, because the liver cannot cope with breaking down
such a high concentration of the chemical.
The liver also converts hormones into inactive compounds. These are filterd out of the blood by the
kidneys.
Have to learn about this for school and it makes little sense to I started watching Breaking Bad instead...
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