10. Function Of The Liver Flashcards
Where are the Kupffer cells located?
Sinusoidal space
Kupffer cell function
Liver resident macrophages
Eat - antigenic material, senescing/dead RBC
Clear portal bacteria/endotoxins
Where are Stellate cells located?
Perisinusoidal cells of the liver
Stellate cell function
Store fat and vit A
Regulate turnover or ECM
Under stress- stimulate inflammatory cytokines -> fibrosis
What are hepatocytes rich in?
Organelles
Mitochondria
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
What is the function of hepatocytes?
Protein, lipid, carb metabolism
Bile, cholesterol steroid hormones
Metabolise drugs
Protein synthesis
How does the liver regulate carbohydrate metabolism?
Liver receives fructose, glucose ect via portal vein
Regulates blood glucose by glycolysis, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, muscle stores gycogen, gluconeogenesis
What is the main organ that clears lactate?
Liver
What are a few examples of proteins made by the liver?
*Clotting proteins
Albumin
Complement proteins
*AST/ALT
*Alkaline phosphatase
By what processes does the liver metabolise proteins eg urea and amino acids
Urea metabolism - detoxification of ammonia
Delamination of amino acids
Decarboxylation of amino acids
How does the liver do its functions?
Many organelles
Many enzymes that help break products down
Synthesising things
Detox by dehydrogenation
Secretes bile
What proteins are tested for in liver blood tests?
AAAPBAG
ALT
AST
Albumin
PT
Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
Gamma gt
What are transaminases and give two examples?
Proteins released by damaged hepatocytes
ALT and AST
Tell you there is some inflammation
What are albumin and PT markers for?
Synthetic function
Albumin - 20 day half life - marker of chronic liver damage
Pt - clotting time - marker of acute and chronic liver damage
What are bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma gt markers for?
Stasis of blood flow [cholestatic LFTS]
