Fetge

Fetge is the Catalan term for the liver, the largest internal organ in humans and many vertebrates. In humans, it lies in the upper right portion of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm, protected by the rib cage. The organ weighs about 1.4 kilograms in adults and has a lobular structure composed of hepatic lobules, with hepatocytes arranged around a central vein and connected by sinusoids. The liver receives dual blood supply from the hepatic artery and the portal vein and drains into the hepatic veins that empty into the inferior vena cava. Bile produced by hepatocytes is secreted into bile canaliculi, collects in the bile ducts, and is conveyed to the gallbladder or intestine.

The liver performs a wide range of vital functions. Metabolically, it regulates carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism, converts excess glucose to glycogen (glycogenesis) and can perform gluconeogenesis. It detoxifies drugs and toxins via cytochrome P450 enzymes and other pathways. It synthesizes plasma proteins such as albumin and most clotting factors, stores vitamins and minerals, and participates in immune defense through Kupffer cells and other mechanisms. It also processes hormones, metabolizes bilirubin, and stores glycogen, vitamins, and iron.

Regeneration is a notable feature; after injury the liver can regenerate lost tissue by hepatocyte proliferation. Clinically, liver health is assessed with blood tests measuring ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, and bilirubin. Common disorders include hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, biliary tract diseases, and liver cancer. The term fetge is used in Catalan medical and anatomical texts to denote the liver, paralleling the English liver and French foie.