Which statement about albumin is true?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

Albumin, produced by the liver, is the primary determinant of plasma oncotic (colloid osmotic) pressure. Its large size and high concentration in blood keep water inside the vessels, helping to maintain intravascular volume and prevent edema. When oncotic pressure falls, fluid shifts into the interstitial spaces, leading to edema and potentially ascites in liver disease where albumin production is reduced. Albumin does not play a role in accelerating fat digestion—digestion relies on bile and pancreatic enzymes. It is not stored in the gallbladder, where bile is stored. And it is not a hormone; hormones are signaling molecules, whereas albumin is a transport and stabilizing plasma protein.