Hati

Hati is the Indonesian and Malay term for the liver, a large organ that carries out a wide range of essential metabolic and regulatory tasks. In everyday language, hati is used primarily to refer to this organ; the word for the heart is jantung, although hati can appear in idioms such as hati-hati meaning careful or cautious.

In humans, the liver is located in the upper right portion of the abdomen, just beneath the diaphragm. It is the body’s largest internal organ and has a dual blood supply from the hepatic artery and portal vein. The liver is divided into lobes and, at the microscopic level, into lobules arranged around a central vein.

Major functions include bile production for digestion, metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals, detoxification of drugs and toxins, and synthesis of important proteins such as albumin and clotting factors. It also processes hormones, supports the immune system through specialized cells, and metabolizes bilirubin, a waste product from red blood cells.

Common liver diseases include hepatitis (viral or autoimmune), fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. Risk factors encompass alcohol misuse, hepatitis infections, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and exposure to certain toxins or medications. Diagnosis typically relies on blood tests, imaging studies, and sometimes biopsy, with treatment targeting the underlying cause and disease stage.

In many cultures, hati figures in cuisine as a source of nutrition, with dishes featuring liver organs widely prepared around the world. The term also appears in idiomatic expressions, reflecting the organ’s prominence in language and daily life.