The liver uses the most oxygen in the body, consuming approximately 20.4% of the total oxygen utilized. The brain comes in second, consuming 18.4% of the body's oxygen, followed by the heart at 11.6%.
While the brain consumes a significant amount of oxygen, it's important to note that the liver's high oxygen consumption is a reflection of its many vital functions, including:
- Detoxification: The liver filters harmful substances from the blood.
- Protein synthesis: The liver produces essential proteins for various bodily functions.
- Glucose regulation: The liver stores and releases glucose to maintain stable blood sugar levels.
- Bile production: The liver produces bile, which aids in fat digestion.
While the liver, brain, and heart consume the most oxygen, other organs also utilize a considerable amount. For example, all skeletal muscles combined use 20% of the body's oxygen, the kidneys use 7.2%, and the skin consumes 4.8%. The remaining 17.6% of oxygen is used by all other organs and tissues in the body.
