The largest of the body's organs, with the greatest number of functions.

The liver is the largest of the body's organs. It produces major proteins and chemicals, purifies the blood, converts food to energy and stores it in the form of glucose, and excretes unwanted substances. One of the primary chemicals produced by the liver is bile, which facilitates the digestion of fats in the small intestine. The liver is present by the third week after conception and begins basic functioning by the sixth or eighth week. However, the liver's ability to break down bilirubin and bile acids is still rudimentary at birth. Development continues until sometime between the ages of six months to one year when the liver reaches adult-level functioning.

Jaundice, brought on by the buildup of bilirubin in the bile, is a common feature of liver dysfunction. It is...