New Zealand EMT Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) Practice Test

The liver is primarily responsible for detoxification and metabolism within the body. It plays a crucial role in processing nutrients absorbed from the digestive tract and detoxifying harmful substances. The liver’s metabolic functions include the synthesis of proteins, production of biochemicals necessary for digestion, and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood. It also breaks down drugs and alcohol, converting them into less harmful substances that can be eliminated from the body. This organ is essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis, ensuring that the body's various biochemical processes run smoothly and efficiently.

In contrast, the gall bladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, the pancreas produces digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin, and the spleen is involved in filtering blood and supporting the immune response. Therefore, these other organs, while vital to digestive and immune functions, do not primarily handle detoxification and metabolism as the liver does.