18 anatomy of the liver Flashcards
What are the functions of the liver?
Metabolism
What does the liver metabolise?
Glycogen
What does the liver excrete?
Water
What does the liver detoxify?
Drugs and poisons
What does the liver store?
Glycogen
What is the immunologic function of the liver?
Phagocytosis of bacteria
How is the liver divided?
2 major lobes and 2 minor lobes
Which liver lobe is larger?
Right lobe
What is the Glisson’s capsule?
The connective tissue capsule surrounding the liver
What surrounds the lobules?
Connective tissue
What is the portal triad?
Heaptic vein
What are hepatocytes?
Epithelial cells with one or two nuclei and 5-12 surfaces
What occurs at the apical surface of hepatocytes?
Where bile is secreted from
What does the lateral surface of hepatocytes do?
Connect neighbouring hepatocytes
What separates hepatocytes?
Sinusoids
Where do immune cells reside?
Sinusoids
What is the rate of blood flow in the liver?
1500ml/min
What are the cons of the liver’s rich blood supply?
It is a prime site for metastasis of cancer
What does the hepatic portal vein do?
Take venous blood to liver
What does the hepatic artery do?
Take arterial blood to liver
What does the hepatic vein do?
Take processed blood to the vena cava
What is a sinusoid?
A small blood vessel found in liver that functions similarly to capillary
Compare sinusoids to capillaries
They have increased permeability compared to capillaries and allow larger molecules to leave the bloodstream. they have no or discontinuous basement membrane but continuous in capillaries
Describe how sinusoids allow passage of large molecules
Their endothelial layer contains large intracellular gaps allowing for passage of large molecules and a further leak is allowed by fenestration that penetrate endothelial cells.