Why Is the Liver So Amazing?

The liver is an organ that performs a lot of important functions in the body. However, if you observe it under the microscope, it seems to be very quiet because most of its cells remain in a non-dividing state (this is called quiescent). The liver is so important that it is provided with a great ability to tolerate several kinds of injuries. After a wound or other damage, all the cells in the liver change and divide until the normal size of the liver is restored. This interesting process is commonly known as “liver regeneration.” If the injury to the liver is so serious that the liver cannot regenerate, a person may need a new liver, that is, a transplant. Right now, more than 15,000 people in the USA are waiting for liver transplants. You will learn that, due to its ability to “regenerate,” the liver can be donated while the donor is still alive.