The liver is involved in detoxification of many poisons and drugs. Which of the following structures is primarily involved in this process and, therefore, abundant in liver cells?
A) rough endoplasmic reticulum
B) smooth endoplasmic reticulum
C) Golgi apparatus
D) nuclear envelope

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is primarily involved in detoxification processes, including the metabolism of drugs and the breakdown of toxic substances. Thus, liver cells, which are responsible for detoxification processes, have an abundance of SER. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) is involved in protein synthesis and post-translational modifications, while the Golgi apparatus plays a role in modifying, sorting, and shipping proteins and lipids. The nuclear envelope separates the nucleus from the cytoplasm and regulates the passage of molecules between the two compartments.

The Liver Is Involved in Detoxification of Many Poisons and Drugs