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Liver physiology can be understood by connecting structure to function. The liver receives nutrient-rich portal blood and oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery. Within the hepatic lobule, blood moves toward the central vein, while bile travels outward toward bile ducts. Hepatocytes perform metabolic functions and produce bile; Kupffer cells act as macrophages, and stellate cells store vitamin A and can contribute to fibrosis. The liver processes carbohydrates through pathways including glycogenesis and gluconeogenesis, supports protein and nitrogen metabolism through the urea cycle and protein synthesis, and handles lipids including cholesterol and ketones. Bile salts help fat absorption by forming micelles, and bile components undergo enterohepatic circulation. Detoxification involves Phase I modification and Phase II conjugation.