GI PBL 2

Question 1

Where is the liver?

Answer 1

It lies inferiorly to the diaphragm, mainly to the right side and does not usually extend below the costal margin

Question 2

What are the functions of the liver?

Answer 2

• Production of bile, urea, heparin, vitamin A, plasma proteins and antibodies
• The metabolism of fats amino acids, sugars and toxins
• Storage of fats, vitamins A, D and B12, iron and glycogen
• The activation of vitamin D

Question 3

What are the lobes of the liver?

Answer 3

Right, left, quadrate and caudate lobes

Question 4

How are the caudate and quadrate lobes separated?

Answer 4

deep transverse fissure (porta hepatis)

Question 5

What lies within the porta hepatis?

Answer 5

All the vessels, nerves and ducts entering and leaving the liver with the exception of the hepatic veins

Question 6

What covers the liver?

Answer 6

A fibrous membrane called the Glisson’s capsule and partially by the peritoneum

Question 7

What ligaments are attached to the liver?

Answer 7

• coronary ligaments
• falciform ligament
• round ligament
• triangular ligaments
• lesser omentum

Question 8

What are the coronary ligaments?

Answer 8

They surround the area of the liver that is devoid of peritoneum, which is in contact with the diaphragm

Question 9

What is the falciform ligament

Answer 9

Runs across the front of the liver attaching it to the anterior abdominal wall

Question 10

What is the round ligament?

Answer 10

An embryological remnant that runs along the falciform ligament from the porta hepatis to the umbilicus

Question 11

What are the triangular ligaments?

Answer 11

• left - attaches the left lobe of the liver to the diaphragm
• Right – attaches the right lobe of the liver to the diaphragm

Question 12

What is the lesser omentum?

Answer 12

Attaches the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and first part of the duodenum

Question 13

What are the hepatic recesses?

Answer 13

• subphrenic spaces
• subhepatic space
• morison’s pouch

Question 14

what are the subphrenic spaces?

Answer 14

Located between the diaphragm and the anterior and superior aspects of the liver. They are divided into left and right by the falciform ligament

Question 15

What is the subhepatic space?

Answer 15

A subdivision of the supracolic compartment (above the transverse mesocolon), this peritoneal space is located between the inferior surface of the liver and transverse colon

Question 16

What is morison’s pouch?

Answer 16

a potential space between the visceral surface of the liver and the right kidney. This is the deepest part of the peritoneal cavity when supine therefore pathological abdominal fluid such as blood or ascites is most likely to collect in this region in a bed ridden patient

Question 17

What type of cells make up the liver?

Answer 17

Hepatocytes, bile canaliculi and hepatic sinusoids

Question 18

What is the function of hepatocytes?

Answer 18

Hepatocytes are multi-functional, they take up amino acids, glucose, and vitamins for metabolism or storage, detoxify blood through the catabolism of hormones, toxins, and drugs, and synthesize bile

Question 19

What are bile canaliculi?

Answer 19

ducts that collect the bile

Question 20

What are hepatic sinusoids?

Answer 20

supply the liver with oxygenated and nutrient rich blood

Question 21

What are hepatocytes?

Answer 21

Cuboidal epithelial cells with 5-12 sides and surfaces lined with microvilli. They are densely packed and segmented into hepatic laminae only one cell thick by vascular spaces called sinusoids

Question 22

What are bile canaliculi?

Answer 22

Channels located between the hepatocytes

Question 23

Which direction does the bile flow?

Answer 23

the opposite direction to the blood

Question 24

what are the hepatic sinusoids?

Answer 24

Capillaries with large fenestrations

Question 25

What cells do hepatic sinusoids contain?

Answer 25

Kupffer cells

Question 26

What is the function of Kupffer cells in the hepatic sinusoids?

Answer 26

Macrophages that remove waste from blood