Liver Quiz

• Q1

  What does “cirrhosis” stand for?

  A. Alcoholic liver disease
  B. Scarring of liver tissue
  C. A type of hepatitis

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  A1: Guessed right? B is the correct answer.

  Various causes, including viral or bacterial infections (hepatitis) as well as alcoholic liver disease may lead to scarring of liver tissue, also called cirrhosis. While acute injuries of an otherwise healthy liver may heal without long-term damage, the regenerative self-healing power of the liver decreases drastically the more liver tissue is scarred. The scarred tissue is left dysfunctional and when too much of your liver tissue is cirrhotic (scarred), your body may no longer be able to compensate for the dysfunctional liver, leading to decompensated cirrhosis or acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

• Q2

  What amount of alcohol consumption is best for your liver?

  A. Maximal 1 glass of beer per week
  B. Two soothing glasses of red wine every night
  C. None

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  A2: Guessed right? C is the correct answer.

  While two soothing glasses of red wine every night sounds appealing and may help you enjoy your dinner or calm your nerves after a stressful day, this is already too much for your liver to deal with on the long run. It’s best if you don’t drink any alcohol at all or restrict your alcohol consumption to one or two glasses of wine or beer at special events with family and friends a few times a year.

• Q3

  Why is the liver such an important organ for overall health?

  A. It plays an important role in the body’s immune response
  B. It helps with the digestion of food
  C. It cleanses the body of toxins

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  A3: Guessed right? All answers are correct!

  The liver is one of the largest human organs and it has many important jobs. It’s like a factory that makes vital substances (such as albumin and proteins that help with blood clotting and repair of damaged tissues), it cleanses the body of toxic substances (like alcohol or drugs), it combats infections by detecting, capturing, and clearing bacteria, viruses, and macromolecules, and it produces bile that helps us digest food. A healthy liver also stores important nutrients, such as sugars and vitamins, for later use within your body’s metabolism whenever it needs them. Nature assigned more than 500 biologically important functions to this vital organ!

• Q4

  How much does the adult human liver weigh in average?

  A. 1.3 – 1.8 kg
  B. 1.0 – 1.2 kg
  C. 0.5 – 0.8 kg

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  A4: Guessed right? A is the correct answer

  The liver weights in average 1.8 kg in men and 1.3 kg in women and holds approximately 13% (about 0.57 litres) of your total blood supply at any given time.