Liver Physiology Flashcards Preview

Health, Metabolism and Homeostasis > Liver Physiology > Flashcards

Flashcards in Liver Physiology Deck (12)
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1
Q

What is the blood supply to the liver?

A

30% Hepatic artery

70% Portal vein

2
Q

What major veins drain into the portal vein?

A

Superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein

3
Q

What are the major cell types of the liver?

A
Hepatocytes
Cholangiocytes
Endothelial cells
Kupffer cells
Lipocytes (Stellate cells)
4
Q

What are the functions of the liver? (Hint: DESPICES)

A

Drug metabolism and detoxification
Energy metabolism and substrate interconversion - (glucose, glycolysis, urea)
Synthesis of plasma proteins (albumin, fibrinogen, plasminogen)
Production of bile
Immune function - kupffer cells (phagocytosis)
Cholesterol processing
Excretion of bilirubin
Storage of vit and min (A,D,E,K/ iron, copper)

5
Q

How much bile does the liver produce per day? What does the gall bladder do?

A

0.7-1.2 L daily
Stores and concentrates bile
Liver secretes bile - drains into main bile duct

6
Q

What is bile composed of? (Hint: Be Happy That Liver Creates Bile)

A
Bile salts (solubilise fat in SI)
HCO3- (neutralise acid in duodenum)
Trace metals
Lecithin (emulsifier)
Cholesterol
Bile pigments (bilirubin)
7
Q

Are bile salts lost or recycled?

A

Released into SI
95% recycled - enterohepatic circulation - back to liver
5% lost in faeces

8
Q

What are the main functions of bile salts?

A

Emulsification of dietary lipids (panc lipase can now access)
Elimination of cholesterol
Prevents cholesterol precipitations in the gall bladder (gall stones)
Absorption of vit D, E, A, K, iron, copper

9
Q

What are the functions of cholesterol?

A

Plasma membrane
component of bile salts
precursor of steroid hormones
myelin sheath

10
Q

Where does cholesterol come from?

A

15% - diet
85% - synthesised
Transported in complexes with lipoproteins

11
Q

How does the liver process cholesterol?

A

Synthesises chol from acetyl coA
Syntehsises lipoproteins
Exports chol via circulatory system to body cells
Exports chol to liver for bile salt synthesis
Extracts excess chol from plasma
Export excess chol via liver into bile for excretion into faeces

12
Q

How is bilirubin formed?

A

Breakdown of haem in the spleen and bone marrow