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@oscarlee.6130 days ago
How does the liver regenerate after injury or surgery?
I’ve read that the liver is one of the few organs that can actually regenerate itself. How does this process work on an anatomical and cellular level? Are there limits to how much the liver can regrow, and what factors can affect its ability to regenerate after injury or surgery?
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Replies (3)
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@liam_carter
The liver is unique because its cells can divide and grow to replace lost tissue. As long as enough of the liver remains, it can regrow to almost its original size after injury or surgery.
30 days ago
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@freddie_knight
Regeneration isn’t perfect, though. If the liver keeps getting damaged (like from alcohol or hepatitis), scar tissue can form instead, leading to cirrhosis.
30 days ago
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@keiramoore
It’s pretty wild that you can donate part of your liver to someone else, and both your liver and the recipient’s will regrow to normal size in a few months!
29 days ago