What organ primarily rids the body of alcohol?

The liver is the primary organ responsible for metabolizing and eliminating alcohol from the body. When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to the liver, where it undergoes a complex chemical process. Enzymes in the liver break down alcohol, converting it into acetaldehyde, which is then further processed into non-toxic substances that can be eliminated. This process is crucial because it helps prevent alcohol from accumulating to dangerous levels in the body.

The liver has a significant capacity to process alcohol, but this capacity can be overwhelmed if alcohol is consumed too rapidly or in excessive amounts. In such cases, the body may experience intoxication and possible alcohol poisoning.

While the heart pumps blood throughout the body, the kidneys filter waste products and regulate fluid balance, neither of these organs directly metabolizes alcohol. The pulmonary system, which includes the lungs, plays a minor role in the elimination of alcohol through exhalation but is not the primary organ involved. Therefore, the liver's critical function in alcohol metabolism makes it the correct answer to the question.