Answer:
Dear
Ulrike,
The liver
is the key body organ involved in maintaining proper sugar, fatty
acid, and amino acid concentrations in the blood, and the hepatic
portal system ensures that these substances pass through the liver
before entering the systemic circulation.
As blood
percolates through the liver sinusoids, some of the nutrients are
removed to be stored or processed in various ways for release to the
general circulation.
At the
same time the hepatocytes are detoxifying alcohol and other possible
harmful chemicals present in the blood, and the liver's macrophages
are removing bacteria and other debris from the passing blood.
The liver
in turn is drained by the hepatic veins that enter the inferior vena
cava.
