The liver is the only human organ that can regenerate itself significantly after being damaged or partially removed. Even after losing up to 90% of its mass, the liver can regrow to its normal size. This remarkable ability is due to its unique cellular structure and regenerative processes.
The Liver's Amazing Regenerative Power
Multiple sources confirm the liver's exceptional regenerative capacity. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) highlights the liver's unique ability to regenerate after damage. Johns Hopkins Medicine states that the liver is the only organ capable of replacing lost or injured tissue. MD Anderson Cancer Center emphasizes that while the liver regenerates, it doesn't grow back like a lizard's tail; the process involves complex cellular mechanisms. This is further supported by Genome British Columbia which notes that while the liver's regeneration is impressive, some individuals with diseased liver tissue may not experience complete regrowth.
It's important to note that while other tissues and organs, like hair follicles (Cleveland Clinic) and possibly the vas deferens (Johns Hopkins Medicine) can repair themselves or show limited regeneration, the liver's capacity for complete and substantial regrowth surpasses that of any other organ in the human body. Research also shows potential for regeneration in other tissues, such as brain tissue, thymus and heart (Wikipedia), but this is a much less well-defined area of study.
