What is the primary function of the liver?

The liver plays a crucial role in processing nutrients and detoxifying harmful substances, which makes this the primary function of the liver. It receives blood from the digestive tract through the portal vein, allowing it to directly process the nutrients absorbed from food, breaking them down, and converting them into forms that can be used by the body.

Additionally, the liver is responsible for detoxifying various metabolites, synthesizing proteins important for blood clotting and other functions, and producing biochemicals necessary for digestion, such as bile. This multifaceted role is essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and overall health.

While the liver does contribute to the absorption of nutrients indirectly by processing them from the gut, its central functions revolve around nutrient processing and detoxification. Other choices, such as regulating body temperature and producing insulin, are not primary functions of the liver. Instead, body temperature regulation is associated with the skin and systemic circulation, and insulin production primarily occurs in the pancreas.