33) Bile, gallbladder and stones Flashcards
What cells synthesise bile?
- The hepatocytes
- It occurs when we are not eating
Describe the movement of bile from the liver to the gall bladder and duodenum
- It flows from the hepatocytes down the bile canaliculi (capillaries) into the (right and left) hepatic ducts that join together to form the common hepatic duct.
- If it needs to be secreted this bile flows down the common bile duct along with the bile in the gall bladder and joins the duodenum at the sphincter of Oddi where the bile is released into the duodenum
- If it needs to be stored it will flow into the cystic duct where it enters the gall bladder to be stored
What is the ampulla of vater?
- The point at which the common bile duct meets the pancreatic duct
- Here the juices from the pancreas and the bile from the liver and gall bladder mmix and are released into the duodenum
- This release is controlled by the sphincter of Oddi
What is the function of the gall bladder?
- It stores and concentrates bile
- It concentrates bile as it has active Na+ transport. In this process water is removed from the gall bladder
- The pH of bile drops as Na+ is exchanged for H+
How does bile salt concentration affect bile salt synthesis?
- As [bile salt] increases it causes the production and secretion of bile salts to also increase
- An increase in bile secretion leads to an increase in bile flow
How does the sphincter of Oddi change its shape to achieve its function?
- The sphincter of Oddi contracts during periods of fasting as there is nothing in the duodenum and so there is no need for the release of pancreatic juices and bile into the small intestines.
- However it relaxes during and after meals as there will be food present in the duodenum so it will need to allow pancreatic juices and bile to flow through and digest the food
What substances are secreted across the bile canalicular membrane?
- Bile acids
- Phosphatidylcholine
- Conjugated bilirubin
- Cholesterol
- Xenobiotics
How are substances secreted by the bile canalicular membrane transported?
- Through specific transporters such as water, glucose, etc
Where do we find the most concentrated bile?
- We find the most concentrated bile in the gall bladder
What are the two pathways in which bile is produced?
- Classical (neutral) pathway: Accounts for majority of the bile produced and most of the intermediates produced by this pathway are neutral
- Alternative (Acidic) pathway: Accounts for the minority of bile produced and most of the intermediates produced by this pathway are acidic
What are bile acids made from?
- They are made from cholesterol (so helps reduce the level of cholesterol in the body)
- Bile acids are secreted into bile and conjugated to glycine or taurine
Why is bile conjugated?
- It helps to increase the ability of bile acids to be secreted and also decreases their cytotoxicity
What are the different types of bile found in humans?
- Cholic acid
- Chenodeoxycholic acid
- Deoxycholic acid
- Lithocholic acid
What are the different subdivisions of the bile found in the body?
- Primary bile acids: Include cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid. These are produced in the over
- Secondary bile acids: Include deoxycholic acid (from cholic acid) and lithocholic acid (from chenodeoxycholic acid). These are produced by intestinal bacteria from primary bile acids
What are the main functions of bile?
- Elimination of cholesterol through the synthesis of bile
- Reduce the precipitation of cholesterol in the gall bladder as bile acids and phospholipids help solubilise cholesterol into bile
- Facilitate the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK)
- Regulate their own transport and metabolism via enterohepatic circulation
- Facilitate the digestion of triglycerides as they emulsify fats