The liver has the ability to regenerate, but when it's repeatedly subjected to severe inflammation that exceeds its ability to recover, the resulting abnormal proliferation of connective tissue and excessive deposits leads to the replacement of liver tissue with fibrous scar tissue, gradually diminishing liver function. This is known as cirrhosis.
肝雖然有再生功能，但當肝反覆、嚴重發炎到超過本身的修復能力時，就好像腳底一再起水泡會磨出厚繭一樣，大量結締組織異常增生、過度沈積的結果，會導致肝臟組織纖維化，也就是俗稱的「肝硬化」，肝的功能也一步步喪失。