Functions of the Liver and Hepatobiliary System

Question 1

In which abdominal quadrant is the liver located?

Answer 1

In the right hypochondrium.

Question 2

What is the name of the upper right abdominal quadrant?

Answer 2

Right hypochondrium.

Question 3

What is the name of the upper middle abdominal qudrant?

Answer 3

Epigastric region.

Question 4

What is the name of the upper left abdominal quadrant?

Answer 4

Left hypochondrium.

Question 5

What is the name of the middle right abdominal quadrant?

Answer 5

Right lumbar.

Question 6

What is the name of the central abdominal quadrant?

Answer 6

Umbilical region.

Question 7

What is the name of the middle left abdominal quadrant?

Answer 7

Left region.

Question 8

What is the name of the bottom right abdominal quadrant?

Answer 8

Right iliac region.

Question 9

What is the name of the bottom middle abdominal quadrant?

Answer 9

Hypogastrium.

Question 10

What is the name of the bottom left abdominal quadrant?

Answer 10

Left iliac region.

Question 11

How many lobes comprise the liver?

What separates these lobes?

Answer 11

2.

Falciform ligament.

Question 12

What is the name of the ligament that hangs inferior to the falciform ligament?

Answer 12

Ligamentum teres.

Question 13

What is the name of the infero-postero-medial part of the right lobe?

Answer 13

Quadrate lobe.

Question 14

What is the name of the supero-postero medial part of the right lobe?

Answer 14

Caudate lobe.

Question 15

Where does the gallbladder lie in relation to the liver?

Answer 15

On the posterior aspect of the right lobe, lateral to the quadrate lobe.

Question 16

What is fibrosis?

Answer 16

The formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in response to tissue damage.

Question 17

Where does hepatic bile drain into?

Through which duct is bile transferred?

Answer 17

The duodenum, through the common bile duct.

Question 18

Which muscle contracts to secrete bile?

Answer 18

The hepatopancreatic sphincter.

Question 19

What is the function unit of the liver?

What 4 things is it composed of?

Answer 19

A liver lobule.

1 - Hepatocytes.

2 - Sinusoidal channels.

3 - Inlet and outlet blood vessels.

4 - Bile canaliculi.

Question 20

What does the portal vein carry?

Answer 20

Venous blood from the gut.

Question 21

What does the hepatic artery carry?

Answer 21

Arterial blood.

Question 22

Where do hepatic veins drain into after leaving the liver?

Answer 22

Into the inferior vena cava.

Question 23

List 4 locations in the liver where connective tissue can be found.

Answer 23

1 - Capsule.

2 - Perivascular.

3 - Surrounding the portal tract.

4 - Reticular network (holds cells in place).

Question 24

Which cells produce the ECM materials that compose the connective tissue of the liver?

Answer 24

Stellate cells.

Question 25

What is the function of glycoproteins in the connective tissue of the liver?

Answer 25

To help orientate the cells correctly. Link cells to collagen and ECM.

Question 26

What is the difference between an acinus and a lobule?

Answer 26

Both are views of the function unit of the liver, however: An acinus is centered on portal tracts and bile ducts. Whereas a lobule is centered on central veins.

Question 27

What is a bile canaliculus?

Answer 27

The thin tubes that connects bile secreted by hepatocytes. Merge to form ductules, which form the common hepatic duct.

Question 28

What type of epithelia compose the endothelium of the liver?

Answer 28

Squamous epithelium.

Question 29

What are the two functions of the endothelium specific to the liver?

Answer 29

1 - To protect the parenchyma from blood cells, bacteria and viruses. 2 - To filter fluids.

Question 30

List 5 normal endothelium functions.

Answer 30

1 - Anti-thrombogenic functions. 2 - Regulation of coagulation. 3 - Regulation of leukocyte traffic. 4 - Selective uptake of solutes. 5 - Scavenging of waste products.

Question 31

What is the function of Kupffer cells?

Answer 31

Act as macrophages. - Produce cytokines, -

Question 32

Where are Kupffer cells found?

Answer 32

Within the sinusoids.

Question 33

What comprises a portal triad?

Answer 33

1 - Hepatic artery. 2 - Hepatic portal vein. 3 - Bile ductules. 4 - Lymphatic vessels. 5 - Branch of vagus nerve.

Question 34

What are stellate cells? What shape do they have? How does their shape change in response to the environment?

Answer 34

Perisinusoidal fat storing cells, aid in production of ECM. Normally star shaped with multiple branching membranous processes. Adopt a more fibroblast-like morphology in disease.

Question 35

What are the 2 primary digestive functions of the liver?

Answer 35

1 - Carbohydrate and fat metabolism. 2 - Storage of vitamins and minerals.

Question 36

List 2 examples of biological molecules synthesised in the liver.

Answer 36

1 - Cholesterol. 2 - Bile. 3 - Albumin. 4 - Fibronectin (and components of coagulation cascade). 5 - Plasminogen. 6 - Alpha-1 antitrypsin. 7 - Transferrin. 8 - Hepcidin (regulator of iron entry into blood circulation).

Question 37

List 4 detoxification and elimination functions of the liver.

Answer 37

1 - Urinary excretion (solubilisation of compoudns). 2 - Biliary excretion (lipophilic compounds). 3 - Biotransformation of drugs (Phase 1 = oxidation by P450 and Phase 2 = conjugation) 4 - Elimination of ammonia.

Question 38

What is liver cirrhosis?

Answer 38

An advanced stage of liver fibrosis with distortion of the hepatic vasculature and structure.

Question 39

List 3 complications of liver cirrhosis.

Answer 39

1 - Ascites (accumulation of protein-containing (ascitic) fluid within the abdomen). 2 - Varices (extremely dilated submucosal veins due to portal hypertension). 4 - Renal failure.

Question 40

What are the 3 main drivers of cirrhosis?

Answer 40

1 - Viral infection. 2 - Alcohol. 3 - Metabolic syndrome.

Question 41

What is viral hepatitis?

Answer 41

- Viruses selectively infect hepatocytes. | - Very strong immune response -> immune system kills infected hepatocytes.

Question 42

List 5 symptoms and risks associated with non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Answer 42

1 - Insulin resistance. 2 - Lipotoxicity. 3 - Oxidant stress. 4 - Apoptosis. 5 - Inflammation

Question 43

List 3 possible causes of damage to the liver that may result in fibrosis.

Answer 43

1 - Virus / infection. 2 - Toxins (ethanol). 3 - Autoimmunity.