11. Liver vasculature, parenchyma, and biliary system and normal connective tissue

Question 1

What is the origin of the blood supply from the portal vein?

Answer 1

Small intestine (deoxygenated blood)

Question 2

What two veins form the portal vein?

Answer 2

Superior mesenteric vein, and splenic vein

Question 3

Describe the hepatic portal circulation, from intestinal arteries to the IVC

Answer 3

Arterial blood supplies stomach and intestine *(1st capillary bed) - nutrients and toxins are absorbed via diffusion into the:

• Hepatic portal vein —->
• Liver (secondary capillary bed - liver sinusoids) - nutrients and toxins leave capillaries and enter hepatocytes—>
• Central vein—->

Hepatic vein—->

Inferior vena cava

Question 4

What are the distributions of blood supply between the hepatic artery and the portal vein?

Answer 4

Hepatic artery - about 1/3 (approx 30-40%)

Portal vein - 2/3 (approx 60-70%)

Question 5

What cells are contained within liver sinusoids and their function?

Answer 5

Kupffer cells - phagocytic cells

Clear damaged red blood cells and foreign antigens

Question 6

Outline the flow of bile from hepatocytes to the common bile duct

Answer 6

Hepatocytes
Bile canaliculi
Bile ductules
Branch of hepatic duct
Right/left hepatic duct
Common hepatic duct
(stored in gallbladder via cystic duct)
Common bile duct

Question 7

List all of the parenchymal (functional) liver cells

Answer 7

Hepatocytes
Endothelial cells
Kupffer cells
Perisinusoidal (fat-storing) cells
Liver associated lymphocytes

Question 8

List the 3 types of connective tissue of the liver

Answer 8

Portal tracts
Liver capsule
Parenchymal reticulin - composed of type III collagen

Question 9

Describe the biliary system, starting from nutrients being absorbed from the portal vein

Answer 9

Nutrients absorbed through the endothelial cells lining the canaliculus and enters hepatocyte

Within the hepatocyte, contents undergo

• oxidation
• glycolysis
• synthesis
• detoxification

Then, products to be converted into bile enter the hepatic bile duct via the canaliculus (bilirubin, bile salts, glucuronides)

Products not being converted into bile then enter the hepatic vein e.g. export proteins - albumin, prothrombin
Also - lipids, urea, glucose, amino acids

Bile leaves the common bile duct when the sphincter of Oddi opens, entering the duodenum via the ampulla of Vater