Liver and Gallbladder Disorders
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Biology of the Liver and GallbladderLocated in the upper right portion of the abdomen, the liver and gallbladder are interconnected by ducts known as the biliary tract, which drains into the first segment of the small intestine (the duodenum). Although the liver and gallbladder participate in some of the same functions, they are very different.
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Manifestations of Liver DiseaseLiver disease can manifest in many different ways. Characteristic manifestations include
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Diagnosis of Liver, Gallbladder, and Biliary DisordersLiver tests are blood tests that represent a noninvasive way to screen for the presence of liver disease (for example, hepatitis in donated blood) and to measure the severity and progress of liver disease as well as the response to treatment.
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Alcohol-Related Liver DiseaseAlcohol-related liver disease is liver damage caused by drinking too much alcohol for a long time.
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Blood Vessel Disorders of the LiverThe liver receives the oxygen and nutrients it needs in blood that comes from two large blood vessels:
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Drugs and the LiverThe body must process (chemically alter, or metabolize) drugs to be able to use and eliminate them. Most of this processing occurs in the liver, done by liver enzymes. Thus, drugs and the liver can affect each other in several ways:
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Fibrosis and Cirrhosis of the LiverFibrosis is the formation of an abnormally large amount of scar tissue in the liver. It occurs when the liver attempts to repair and replace damaged cells.
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Gallbladder and Bile Duct DisordersThe liver produces bile, a greenish yellow, thick, sticky fluid. Bile aids digestion by making cholesterol, fats, and fat-soluble vitamins easier to absorb from the intestine. Bile also helps eliminate certain waste products (mainly bilirubin and excess cholesterol) and by-products of drugs from the body.
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HepatitisHepatitis is inflammation of the liver.
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Tumors of the LiverLiver tumors may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
