Question

The nurse should recognize that the liver performs which functions (select all that apply)?

1) Bile storage
2) Detoxification
3) Protein metabolism
4) Steroid metabolism
5) Red blood cell (RBC) destruction

Answer 1

The liver is responsible for detoxification, protein metabolism, steroid metabolism, and red blood cell destruction. Bile production is a function of the liver, but bile is stored in the gallbladder, not the liver itself.

Step-by-step explanation:

The liver is a complex and vital organ in the human body with multiple functions. Regarding the options provided:

• Detoxification: The liver filters out toxins from the bloodstream, including drugs and alcohol.
• Protein metabolism: The liver is crucial in synthesizing proteins required for various body functions and metabolism.
• Steroid metabolism: The liver plays a role in the metabolism of steroids as part of its lipid management functions.
• Red blood cell (RBC) destruction: The liver breaks down aged or damaged red blood cells, processing the by-products for excretion or reuse.

While bile production is indeed a function of the liver, bile storage is not accurate as this is the role of the gallbladder. Therefore, bile storage is not a liver function. The liver produces and excretes bile, which is then stored in the gallbladder until needed for digestion.