Why is the liver the only internal organ that can regenerate itself?

I have always wondered this. You can live with only 10-25% of your liver and it regenerates. Why is this?

Wouldn't it be great if we evolved and all out internal organs regenerates?

Educated guesses/answers only please. :-)

Anonymous2008-07-22T23:41:55Z

Favorite Answer

because of the chemicals in the water

02

novangelis2008-07-23T06:47:55Z

This is not strictly true. The regenerative capacity of the liver is exagerated because of the Promethius myth and our desire to see the wisdom of the past proven. You get some liver growth, but it does not return to full size. You can live with 10-25% of your kidneys which do not regenerate because you have a functional reserve. Cardiac muscle and brain show limited capacity for regeneration when dogma had said they didn't.

The liver regenerates well because it has a relatively simple tissue architecture and room to grow into the abdominal cavity.

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