Describe how the liver helps to maintain human health.

a. helps regulate blood glucose level / converts glucose to glycogen and back;
b. prevents excess glucose that could damage cells / lack of glucose could limit cell growth/activity / OWTTE;
c. stores/recycles iron;
d. stores vitamin A/vitamin D;
e. synthesizes plasma proteins/cholesterol;
f. provides essential substances for cell growth/hormone production;
g. detoxifies substances / protects the body from damage from toxic substances (as alcohol);
h. breaks down erythrocytes/hemoglobin;
i. production of bile for digestion (of fats);
j. (production of bile) reduces build-up of bilirubin in the blood / prevents jaundice;

Many of the answers were excellent and most candidates provided complete answers. Some went into far too much detail on some aspects, including the control of glucose levels, but nevertheless included enough material for their answer to be complete.