What is cirrhosis of the liver?
Cirrhosis is the term used to describe a diseased liver that has been severely scarred, usually due to many years of continuous injury. The liver is a large organ (weighing about three pounds) that is located in the right upper abdomen, beneath the rib cage. It performs many functions that are essential to life including: Cleansing toxins from the blood Metabolizing medications Producing blood proteins that are essential for normal blood clotting Manufacturing albumin, a protein that is required for maintaining normal fluid balance in the body Producing fluids and enzymes that are required for normal digestion The liver is very efficient at repairing itself when it has been injured, which can occur with certain diseases like hepatitis. The process of healing involves the creation of scar tissue. Thus, repeated or continuous injury to the liver (such as occurs with heavy alcohol use) can cause scarring in the liver. The body is able to tolerate a partially scarred liver without serious
