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Cirrhosis: Summary And Cellular Analysis

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The liver is a large, internal organ in the body that has many different and very important functions. The liver produces bile, which helps with the neutralization of stomach acid. It acts as storage area for glycogen and vitamins, converts nutrients and substances into more user friendly ones, acts as a detoxifying agent, phagocytizes dead cells, and can synthesize new compounds. (VanPutte et al., 2014) Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver that replaces healthy liver cells called hepatocytes, with hardened tissue, affecting liver functions and blood flow. (VanPutte et al., 2014)
The liver is a highly specialized organ made up of cells specific to its needs and functions. It is a large organ made up of lobes (both major and minor), veins, arteries …show more content…

Hepatocytes take nutrients and oxygen from the blood mix and modify or release them into different parts of the liver or other organ systems (VanPutte et al. 2014).
Cirrhosis of the liver is the scarring or fibrosis of the liver, as stated by the Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). If cirrhosis is caught in the early stages and the cause is determined, the further scarring of the liver can be prevented. Cirrhosis occurs as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol or as a side effect of Hepatitis B or C. It can also be less commonly caused by genetics, medicinal complications, or other liver diseases (Lehrer, 2014).
As cirrhosis progresses, the hardened tissues being formed stop the liver from functioning properly. The buildup of scar tissue prevents blood flow through the liver and slows down toxin and nutrient processing. The production of substances made by the liver is also delayed (WebMD, 2014). As stated in WebMD, 2014, symptoms of cirrhosis include: loss of appetite, lack of energy (fatigue), weight loss or weight gain, bruises, yellowing of skin or the whites of eyes (jaundice), itchy skin, fluid retention (edema) and swelling, a brownish or orange tint to the urine, light colored stools, confusion, disorientation, personality changes, blood in the stool, and …show more content…

If damage to the liver is caused by alcoholism, cessation of drinking alcohol is recommended to stop more damage to the liver. Cessation of alcohol consumption can help aid in the scarring of the liver tissues, allowing healthy liver cells to regenerate. Another cause of cirrhosis that is not related to alcoholism is fatty liver. In these cases, changes in diet are used. Medicines are also prescribed to treat the symptoms associated with cirrhosis. For example, if a person gets an infection from the liver’s inability to fight and process infections properly, antibiotics are given to treat the symptoms. If a patient develops edema as a side effect of cirrhosis, a diuretic may be prescribed to lessen fluid retention (American Liver Foundation, 2015 Lehrer, 2014 WebMD

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