Why Is the Liver So Dark Red in Living Animal?

Question by : Why is the liver so dark red in living animal?
Why is the liver so dark red in living animal?

Best answer:

Answer by Gary B
The liver is the main filter for the blood supply. the kidneys (also dark red) handle water and some chemicals (like uric acid and creatinine) but the liver handles the rest. This is why alcoholism and drug addiction often cause “Cirrhosis of the Liver” — all that alcohol and drugs run through the liver, ruining it.

The liver is also the source of natural cholesterol, and it is the filter for other cholesterol. that is why someone with high cholesterol will sometime have liver damage as well.

The liver is also where old blood cells are “killed” and their chemicals are recycled. Iron is recovered from hemoglobin in the liver. If you like to eat liver, it has a slightly metallic taste due to the excess iron inside. (testes good when sauteed with onions!)

The liver ALSO holds some extra glucose (sugar) for those “fight or flight” cases where a large slug of sugar is needed FAST to help you either fight or run away. if someone comes up behind you and yells, “BOO!” your live will dump extra sugar in your blood to get you ready to either fight to the death, or run away.

The liver is dark red because of all the blood (current and dead/being recycled) in it.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

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