A simple classification by weight of the organs is enough to upset what we thought we knew about the human body.
The human body brings together around 80 organs, each with a specific structure and function. Among these organs, some, like the heart or lungs, are widely studied and known, while others, such as thymus or mesentery, are often underestimated. We often think of the heart or liver when it comes to classifying the organs according to their weight but the most imposing in our body is not the one we believe …
The liver is the organ internal The largest of the human body. Located under the diaphragm, to the right of the abdomen, it plays a crucial role in many metabolic functions. “”It is a real human body laboratoryconfirms Dr. Dominique Biscay, vascular surgeon in Bordeaux. It filters toxins, treats nutrients from digestion, manufactures bile, stores sugar, vitamins, iron, and produces most proteins in“. The weight of the liver varies but it is on average 1.5 kg in an adult.”It is irrigated both by the hepatic artery and the carrier vein, which allows it to operate continuously, even outside the digestion phases. It is very dense in cells.“”
But if we widen the definition to external organs, another candidate far exceeds the liver in weight … It is the skin. It is the heaviest organ of the human body. As Dr Catherine Oliveres-Ghouti, dermatologist in Paris reminds us of “The skin represents about 7% of the total body weight, which corresponds to 5 to 10 kg in an adult, depending on its size and corpulence”. Composed of three main layers – epidermis, dermis and hypodermis – The skin is richly vascularized and innervated. It plays a central role in thermoregulation, protection against pathogens and the synthesis of vitamin D. “The skin is often forgotten in organ rankings, because we see it too much to consider it at its fair value, Note Dr. Oliveres-Ghouti. And the liver, we rarely feel it, until the day when it goes badly. “
Protection of liver and skin is essential to preserve their functions. The liver, in particular, benefits from the moderation of alcohol consumption, the management of excess food and the reasoned use of drugs. As for the skin, it must be protected from UV radiation, chemical agents, as well as the effects of smoking and stress, which hinder its cellular regeneration process. Whether visible or invisible, these organs deserve attention up to their weight … and their role.
