Pancreas & Liver

Question 1

Approximately how much blood passes through the liver per day?

Answer 1

2000L

Question 2

What is the most important digestive function of the liver?

Answer 2

Production of bile

Question 3

What cells in the liver produce bile?

Answer 3

Hepatocytes

Question 4

How are hepatocytes organized within the liver?

Answer 4

Into hexagonal lobules

Question 5

Name three components of bile.

Answer 5

Bile salts, bile pigments (e.g., bilirubin), cholesterol

Question 6

What type of substances are cleared from the blood and excreted in bile?

Answer 6

Drugs/xenobiotics

Question 7

Where is bile secreted after being made by hepatocytes?

Answer 7

Hepatic ducts

Question 8

Where is bile stored and concentrated?

Answer 8

Gallbladder

Question 9

Where does bile go during food digestion?

Answer 9

Duodenum

Question 10

What duct carries bile to the duodenum?

Answer 10

Common bile duct

Question 11

What other substance enters the duodenum via the common bile duct along with bile?

Answer 11

Digestive juices (alkaline fluid containing bicarbonate and enzymes) from the pancreas

Question 12

What is the liver’s primary role in glucose metabolism during the fasted state?

Answer 12

Glucose production

Question 13

What stored form of glucose does the liver break down to release glucose?

Answer 13

Glycogen

Question 14

Describe one way the liver detoxifies blood.

Answer 14

Chemical alteration of biologically active drugs OR Production of less toxic molecules

Question 15

Besides detoxification, name three other general functions of the liver.

Answer 15

Carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, protein synthesis, secretion of bile

Question 16

What are two components of lipid metabolism carried out by the liver?

Answer 16

Synthesis of triglycerides and cholesterol OR Excretion of cholesterol in bile

Question 17

Name two types of proteins synthesized by the liver.

Answer 17

Albumin, plasma transport proteins, OR clotting factors (e.g., fibrinogen, prothrombin)

Question 18

What are two components of bile secretion carried out by the liver?

Answer 18

Synthesis of bile salts, OR conjugation and excretion of bile pigment (bilirubin)

Question 19

What type of substance is bilirubin?

Answer 19

Pigment

Question 20

Bilirubin may be a powerful what in the CNS?

Answer 20

Antioxidant

Question 21

Bilirubin is a breakdown product of what molecule?

Answer 21

Heme

Question 22

What process leads to the production of bilirubin?

Answer 22

Destruction of erythrocytes (red blood cells)

Question 23

What are the two main products of the pancreas relevant to digestion?

Answer 23

Digestive enzymes and bicarbonate

Question 24

What are the clusters of endocrine cells in the pancreas called?

Answer 24

Islets of Langerhans

Question 25

Name two hormones produced by the Islets of Langerhans.

Answer 25

Insulin and glucagon

Question 26

What is the function of insulin?

Answer 26

Lowers blood glucose levels by increasing glucose uptake and storage

Question 27

What is the function of glucagon?

Answer 27

Raises blood glucose levels by the breakdown of glycogen in the liver to glucose

Question 28

What is the function of bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas?

Answer 28

Neutralises acidic chyme

Question 29

Where are pancreatic digestive enzymes released?

Answer 29

Duodenum

Question 30

Name three types of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas.

Answer 30

Amylase, lipase, protease

Question 31

What is the role of bile salts in digestion?

Answer 31

Emulsify fats, aiding in their digestion and absorption.

Question 32

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Answer 32

Stores and concentrates bile.

Question 33

How is blood supplied to the liver?

Answer 33

Hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein

Question 34

What type of blood does the hepatic portal vein carry?

Answer 34

Blood rich in absorbed nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract

Question 35

What are liver cells called?

Answer 35

Hepatocytes

Question 36

What are sinusoids in the liver?

Answer 36

Leaky capillaries between hepatocytes where blood flows

Question 37

What are bile canaliculi?

Answer 37

Small channels that collect bile secreted by hepatocytes

Question 38

What is the central vein of a liver lobule?

Answer 38

Drains blood into the hepatic vein

Question 39

Where are chylomicrons formed?

Answer 39

In intestinal cells

Question 40

How do chylomicrons leave the intestine?

Answer 40

Via the lymphatic system

Question 41

What do exocrine cells secrete?

Answer 41

Digestive enzymes and bicarbonate

Question 42

Name the cells in the Islets of Langerhans and what they secrete.

Answer 42

Alpha cells (glucagon), Beta cells (insulin, amylin), Delta cells (somatostatin)

Question 43

What is diabetes mellitus?

Answer 43

A disease characterized by high blood glucose levels

Question 44

What is the cause of Type 1 diabetes?

Answer 44

Autoimmune destruction of beta cells

Question 45

What is pancreatitis?

Answer 45

Inflammation of the pancreas

Question 46

What are some causes of pancreatitis?

Answer 46

Blockage of pancreatic ducts, gallstones, tumor, alcohol abuse

Question 47

What is cirrhosis?

Answer 47

Scarring of the liver

Question 48

What is the function of the hepatic artery?

Answer 48

Carries oxygenated blood to the liver

Question 49

Describe the flow of blood through liver sinusoids.

Answer 49

Blood from the hepatic artery and portal vein mixes and flows through sinusoids

Question 50

Trace the path of bile from hepatocytes to the duodenum.

Answer 50

Hepatocytes → bile canaliculi → bile ducts → hepatic ducts → common hepatic duct (plus cystic duct from gallbladder) → common bile duct → duodenum

Question 51

What is the role of bile salts in fat digestion?

Answer 51

Emulsify large fat globules into smaller droplets, increasing the surface area for enzyme action.

Question 52

What are micelles?

Answer 52

Aggregates of bile salts, fatty acids, and monoglycerides that transport lipids to the intestinal epithelium for absorption.

Question 53

What enzyme digests triglycerides?

Answer 53

Lipase

Question 54

What is the role of colipase?

Answer 54

Anchors lipase to the surface of lipid droplets.