The key difference between liver and kidney function is that liver function involves helping the human body to digest food and filter out toxic substances, while kidney function involves filtering blood in the body.
The liver and kidneys are two major organs in the human body. The liver is a cone-shaped organ located below the diaphragm, whereas kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the abdomen. Both liver and kidney function are very important for the survival of the human body. However, both these organs perform distinct functions. These help the body eliminate different substances produced inside the body.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Liver Function
3. What is Kidney Function
4. Similarities – Liver and Kidney Function
5. Liver vs. Kidney Function in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Liver and Kidney Function
7. Summary – Liver vs. Kidney Function
What is Liver Function?
The liver is the largest solid organ in the human body. It helps to remove toxins from the blood, maintain healthy blood sugar levels, regulate the blood clotting process, etc. The liver is located beneath the rib cage in the upper right abdomen. It usually performs hundreds of other vital functions such as albumin production, bile production, regulating amino acids, resisting infections, storing vitamins and minerals (the liver stores significant amounts of vitamins A, D, E, K, and B12, iron, and copper), and processing glucose.
Some of the diseases that cause abnormal liver function are hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Furthermore, to maintain normal liver function, people should avoid using illicit drugs, drink alcohol moderately or abstain from alcohol, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, practice safe sex, and vaccinate.
What is Kidney Function?
Kidneys are organs that sit in the back of the abdomen. Kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from the body. They also remove acid that is produced by the cells and usually maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals (sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium) in the blood. The function of the kidneys can be measured by a kidney function test, which is normally performed in a standard laboratory.
The diseases that cause abnormal kidney function are chronic and acute kidney disease, kidney cancer, pyelonephritis, kidney stones, kidney cysts, polycystic kidney disease, acidosis, acute or interstitial nephritis, azotemia, caliectasis, diabetes-related nephropathy, glomerular diseases, papillary necrosis, proteinuria, and uremia. Furthermore, to maintain normal kidney function, people should avoid or quit smoking, cut out excess salt, drink a lot of water, increase daily exercise, maintain a healthy weight, monitor blood pressure levels regularly, and watch blood sugar levels.
What are the Similarities Between Liver and Kidney Function?
- The liver and kidneys are two vital organs in the body.
- They perform numerous functions in the body.
- Both liver and kidney function are very important for the survival of the human body.
- Specific tests can measure their functions.
- Healthy lifestyle practices can normalize both liver and kidney function.
- Abnormal function of the liver and kidney can result in diseases.
What is the Difference Between Liver and Kidney Function?
The liver function is important to digest food and filter out toxic substances, while the kidney function is important to filter the blood in the body. Thus, this is the key difference between liver and kidney function.
The infographic below presents the differences between liver and kidney function in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Liver and Kidney Function
What is the relationship between the liver and the kidneys?
The liver and kidney work together in many functions, including waste removal, sodium regulation, calcium absorption, and more. The liver converts nitrogenous waste into urea, releases it into the bloodstream, and transports it to the kidneys. Then, the kidneys filter urea and other toxic waste from the blood and excrete it from the body as urine.
Can you live without a liver?
You cannot survive without a liver because it is a vital organ that eliminates toxins, breaks down nutrients, and stores vitamins and energy. Without a liver, your body would not be able to perform these critical functions, leading to severe health complications and, ultimately, death.
What are liver and kidney function tests?
The tests for liver and kidney functions are mainly a group of blood tests that give different measurements.
Summary – Liver vs. Kidney Function
The liver and kidneys are vital organs for survival, and one cannot live without each other. The liver removes toxins from the blood of the body, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, and regulates the blood clotting process, while the kidneys filter the blood in the body, remove acid that is produced by the cells of the body, and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals. So, this summarizes the difference between liver and kidney function.
Reference:
1. “Liver: Anatomy and Functions.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2. “Kidneys: Location, Function, Anatomy, Pictures, and Related Diseases.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Kidney Anatomy” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Depiction of a person suffering from liver disease” By Myupchar (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia