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The ability of human body to regenerate
will be tested at a young man named Marcus.
He's willing to risk his health and donate 60% of very important organ – liver.
His cousin Scott has incurable liver disease.
The liver normally removes toxic substances from the blood and produces bile,
which helps degrade food in the intestines.
But Scott's liver is swollen by inflammation.
Bile can't flow out of it, it accumulates within the liver
and it gradually breaks down liver tissue.
Surgeons proceeded to a difficult procedure.
The liver is an extremely complex organ, we must proceed very cautiously
and carefully separate the part of the liver tissue that will be used for transplantation.
Through the Marcus's liver flow every hour 100 liters of blood.
All vessels must be carefully sealed to prevent bleeding to death.
Within the liver there are millions of microscopic cells which immediately find out that there was loss of tissue.
Cells begin with regeneration after 24 hours.
Marcus is in excellent physical condition.
Because of that his body is able to respond to this extensive damage very quickly.
Now we remove the right lobe of liver and donor will have just the left lobe.
And all the tissue that we remove, completely regenerates in a few months.
In other words, there from that place will be created exactly the same piece of tissue like we removed.
Half of the Marcus's liver faces a very difficult task.
It must begin to function and grow inside a foreign body.
Liver can do something like that just because of its unique ability to regenerate.
It's the only organ of the human body that can grow back to full size.
Removed organ is stored in ice-cold saline.
But if the organ won't be connected to the Scott's blood circulation in time, it dies.
Will the new organ dispose toxic substances?
Will it save Scott's life?
Blood begins to flow to the liver.
Blood vessels are passable.
The yellow color confirms that the bile flows inside.
It's a sign that everything works.
24 hours after surgery in the liver begins a wonderful process.
Liver cells quickly proliferate and blood vessels grow into the new created tissue.
Liver regeneration is in full swing.
This unique process takes place in the body of the donor and in the body of the recipient at the same speed.