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The '''liver''' is an [[Organ (anatomy)|organ]] only found in vertebrates which [[detoxification|detoxifies]] various [[metabolite]]s, [[Protein biosynthesis|synthesizes proteins]] and produces [[biochemicals]] necessary for [[digestion]] and growth.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Elias|first1=H.|last2=Bengelsdorf|first2=H.|title=The Structure of the Liver in Vertebrates|journal=Cells Tissues Organs|date=1 July 1952|volume=14|issue=4|pages=297–337|doi=10.1159/000140715|pmid=14943381}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abdel-Misih |first1=Sherif R.Z. |last2=Bloomston |first2=Mark |title=Liver Anatomy |journal=Surgical Clinics of North America |volume=90 |issue=4 |pages=643–653 |year=2010 |pmid=20637938 |pmc=4038911 |doi=10.1016/j.suc.2010.04.017 }}</ref><ref name="cancer.ca">{{cite web |url=http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/liver/anatomy-and-physiology/?region=on |title=Anatomy and physiology of the liver – Canadian Cancer Society |publisher=Cancer.ca |access-date=2015-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626110554/http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/liver/anatomy-and-physiology/?region=on |archive-date=2015-06-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In humans, it is located in the [[quadrant (anatomy)|right upper quadrant]] of the [[abdomen]], below the [[thoracic diaphragm|diaphragm]]. Its other roles in [[metabolism]] include the regulation of [[Glycogen|glycogen storage]], decomposition of [[red blood cell]]s, and the production of [[hormone]]s.<ref name="cancer.ca"/>
The liver is an [[accessory digestive organ]] that produces [[bile]], an [[alkaline]] fluid containing [[cholesterol]] and [[bile acid]]s, which helps the [[fatty acid degradation|breakdown of fat]]. The [[gallbladder]], a small pouch that sits just under the liver, stores bile produced by the liver which is afterwards moved to the small intestine to complete digestion.<ref name=Tortora945>{{cite book |first1=Gerard J. |last1=Tortora |first2=Bryan H. |last2=Derrickson |year=2008 |title=Principles of Anatomy and Physiology |edition=12th |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-470-08471-7|page=945}}</ref> The liver's highly specialized [[biological tissue|tissue]], consisting of mostly [[hepatocyte]]s, regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions, including the synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions.<ref>{{cite book | last = Maton | first = Anthea | author2 = Jean Hopkins | author3 = Charles William McLaughlin | author4 = Susan Johnson | author5 = Maryanna Quon Warner | author6 = David LaHart | author7 = Jill D. Wright | title = Human Biology and Health | publisher = Prentice Hall | year = 1993 | location = Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA | isbn = 978-0-13-981176-0 | oclc = 32308337 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/humanbiologyheal00scho }}</ref> Estimates regarding the organ's total number of functions vary, but textbooks generally cite it being around 500.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zakim |first1=David |last2=Boyer |first2=Thomas D.| year=2002 |title=Hepatology: A Textbook of Liver Disease |edition=4th |isbn =9780721690513}}</ref>
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