Question

Production of which of the following is a function of the liver?

• A. Lipase
• B. Urea
• C. Mucus
• D. Hydrochloric acid

Hint:

Think about how the body gets rid of the ammonia left over from breaking down amino acids.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
The question asks which substance among the four is actually made by the liver.

Step 2: Key Concept.
When the body breaks down excess amino acids, it produces toxic ammonia. The liver converts this ammonia into a much less toxic compound called urea through a set of reactions known as the urea cycle. This urea then travels in the blood to the kidneys, which remove it from the body in urine.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
Lipase is a fat digesting enzyme mainly released by the pancreas into the small intestine, with a small amount also coming from glands in the stomach. The liver itself does not produce lipase.
Mucus is a thick, protective fluid released by goblet cells and mucous glands lining the stomach and intestine, shielding these surfaces from acid and digestive enzymes. This is not a liver product.
Hydrochloric acid is made by the parietal cells found in the lining of the stomach, and it helps digest food and kill germs that enter with food. The liver plays no part in making it.
Urea is the compound the liver forms from toxic ammonia through the urea cycle, and this is a well known liver function.

Step 4: Final Answer.
Production of urea is a function of the liver.