Which organ detoxifies many substances in the body?

Which organ detoxifies many substances in the body?

• A. Liver
• B. Heart
• C. Spleen
• D. Lungs

Answer: (A)

Detoxification is primarily carried out by the liver. It receives blood from the digestive organs and uses liver cells (hepatocytes) that are packed with enzymes to modify toxic substances. Through two stages, substances are made more water-soluble and easier to excrete: Phase I reactions introduce reactive groups via enzymes like cytochrome P450, and Phase II reactions attach groups such as glucuronide, sulfate, or glutathione, which helps eliminate them in urine or bile. The liver also handles waste like ammonia by converting it to urea for excretion. While other organs contribute to removing certain toxins—like the lungs expelling some volatile compounds and the kidneys filtering wastes—the liver does the broad, central detoxifying work. The heart’s role is circulation, and the spleen mainly supports immune function and blood filtering, not detoxification.

Detoxification is primarily carried out by the liver. It receives blood from the digestive organs and uses liver cells (hepatocytes) that are packed with enzymes to modify toxic substances. Through two stages, substances are made more water-soluble and easier to excrete: Phase I reactions introduce reactive groups via enzymes like cytochrome P450, and Phase II reactions attach groups such as glucuronide, sulfate, or glutathione, which helps eliminate them in urine or bile. The liver also handles waste like ammonia by converting it to urea for excretion. While other organs contribute to removing certain toxins—like the lungs expelling some volatile compounds and the kidneys filtering wastes—the liver does the broad, central detoxifying work. The heart’s role is circulation, and the spleen mainly supports immune function and blood filtering, not detoxification.