Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) Health Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Georgia Virtual School Health Exam. Access a variety of study materials including flashcards and interactive quizzes with detailed hints and explanations for each question. Ace your exam with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What organ in the human body is primarily responsible for oxidizing consumed alcohol?

Lungs
Heart
Liver
Kidneys

The correct answer is: Liver

The liver is the primary organ responsible for oxidizing consumed alcohol in the human body. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it is transported to the liver, where specialized enzymes break it down. The main enzyme involved in this process is alcohol dehydrogenase, which converts alcohol into acetaldehyde and then further metabolizes it into acetic acid, ultimately leading to its excretion from the body. The liver's capacity to metabolize alcohol can vary among individuals depending on factors such as age, sex, genetic factors, and overall health. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to liver damage and conditions such as fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis, emphasizing the liver's critical role in alcohol metabolism and the importance of moderation in alcohol intake. While other organs play roles in bodily functions, they are not primarily involved in the oxidation of alcohol. The lungs are involved in gas exchange and not in metabolizing alcohol. The heart primarily pumps blood and is not responsible for the detoxification processes of substances like alcohol. The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and excreting waste products, but they do not oxidize alcohol. Therefore, the liver stands out as the main organ dealing with alcohol metabolism.