Liver Flashcards
(16 cards)
What are the 7 main functions of the liver
Metabolism - Glycogen to glucose, amino acid synthesis lipoproteins, protein metabolism
Detoxification
Excretion - bilirubin from RBClles
Storage - glycogen, triglycerides, Vitamine & minerals
Synthesis - Bile salts used for the emulsification & absorption of fats & cholesterol, blood clotting factors, albumin, angiotensinogen
Imune system - Kupffer cells for phagocytosis and immune response of debrey in the liver
Heat production
what is the location of the liver
Largest internal organ. Sits inferior to diaphragm in the upper right hand quadrant, anteriorly. Anterior shape follows the shape of the diaphragm
What is the role of the Falciform ligament
A fold of peritoneum which attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall. Devides liver into large right lobe and smaller left lobe
What does the right lobe contain
Has small quadrate lobe next to gall bladder, and Caudate lobe. Inbetween lobes, Porta Hopatis which is where everything eneter and leaves the liver
What are the 3 main structures in the Portal Triad
Hepatic artery & portal vein (blood from GI tract to the liver to be cleaned) & Bile duct
How does blood drain from the liver
through hepatic veins into the inferior Vena Cava
What is a Heptaic portal system
When two capillary beds join. e.g. Gi tract to the liver
What is the rough shape of liver Lobule
hexagonal. Blood moves in through the lobule to a centrl vein. Bile moves the opposite direction to be drained into the GI tract
What are Sinusoids, describe the epithelium in the cells wall and the specialised cells they contain
Large low pressure vessels. Drain blood from hepatic artery. Fenestrated epithelium meaning easy transfer of metabolites between plasma and hepatocytes. Contain Kupffer cells which are specialised macrophages for protection and getting rid of old RBCells
What are the three phases of drug metabolism
Modification - Addition of reactive polar groups (preventing it from diffusing across membranes into other organs)
Conjugtion - Add an ionised group to make it water soluble so it can be excreted
Excretion - Small metabolites excreted by kidney Larger metabolites excreted in bile
Describe the process of metabolising bilirubin
Bround to Albumin to prevent it crossing plasma membranes. Its then dissociated from Albumin, then conjugated with glucuronic acid to form bilirubin glucuronide which is water soluble, it is excreted in bile to be turned into feaces
What does excess bilirubin cause
Jaundice
How do they hipatosites react to high carbohydrate level
the can remove it from the liver and store it as glycogen in the liver ready for quick release when the energy is required. Excess glucose is converted into fat
What does protein metabolism in the liver result in
production of Albumin & clotting factors
Describe Liver Regeneration with mild and severe injury
the Hepatocite cells are able to undergo cell devision to replace damaged cell, no cell fibrosis.
Severe, stem cells are also used to replce other cells which can be damaged e.g. kumfer cells
How do chronic conditions affect the regeneration ability
exhaust the potential for regeneration, end up in cirrhosis of the liver (cirrhotic liver)
