Liver Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver?
Synthesises bile, stores glycogen, produces clotting factor.
What does the falciform ligament do?
Attaches anterior surface of liver to anterior abdominal wall.
What do the coronary ligaments do?
Attach superior surface of liver to diaphragm.
What do triangular ligaments do?
Attach superior surface of liver to diaphragm.
What does the lesser omentum contain?
The hepatoduodenal and hepatogastric ligament.
What are the subphrenic spaces?
Space between the diaphragm and liver, either side of falciform ligament.
What is the subhepatic space?
Between the inferior surface of liver and the transverse colon.
What is Morison’s pouch?
Posterosuperior aspect of the subhepatic space - between visceral surface and right kidney. Area where fluid is most likely to collect in a bedridden patient.
How are hepatocytes arranged?
In hexagonal lobules.
What is at the centre of a liver lobule?
Central vein, which drains the lobule.
What is at the periphery of a lobule?
The portal triad - hepatic artery, portal vein and bile duct.
What is Glisson’s capsule?
The fibrous covering of the liver.
How is the liver innervated?
By the hepatic plexus - enters the liver at the porta hepatis.
What is the arterial supply to the liver?
Supplied by hepatic artery proper, which is derived from the coeliac trunk.
What does the hepatic portal vein do?
Supplies the liver with deoxygenated blood, that contains nutrients from the small intestine. Allows liver to detoxify the blood.
