7 - The Liver, Pancreas, + Gallbladder Flashcards
Bilirubin
A pigment derived from the breakdown of aged RBCs
Hepatotoxic
Damaging or destructive to liver cells
ERCP
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; procedure usedto diagnose diseases of the glalbladder, biliary system, pancreas, + liver
Steatorrhea
Passage of large amts of fat as bulky, fatty, frothy, foul-smelling, yellow-grey, greasy stools w putty-like consistency; results from the failure to digest + absorb fat
Jaundice [icterus]
a condition resulting from an abnormal elevation of blood bilirubin; as a result there is a yellowish discoloration to the skin + sclera of the eye
Ascites
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal or abdominal cavity; occurs in the later stages of cirrhosis
Encephalopathy
Damage or disease that affects the brain
Varices
Enlarged, swollen veins
Asterixis
Liver flap - flapping tremors commonly affecting the arms + hands; manifestation of hepatic encephalopathy
Fetor hepaticus
Musty, sweet odour of the pt’s breath resulting from the accumulation of digestive byproducts that the liver is unable to degrade; smells like a freshly opened corpse
Portal hypertension
Hypertension characterized by increased venous presure in the portal circulation as well as by splenomegaly, large collateral veins, ascites, systemic hypertension, and esophageal varices
Spider angiomas
Small, dilated blood vessels of the skin that have a bright-red center and spider-like branches
Occur on the nose, cheeks, upper trunk, neck, + shoulders
Palmar erythema
Skin condition in which the palms of both hands become red; associated with many forms of liver disease
NAFLD [nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]
Spectrum of disease that ranges from simple fatty liver that causes no hepatic inflammation to severe liver scarring
Characterized by accumulation of fat in hepatocytes not associated w alcohol
NASH [nonalcoholic steatohepatitis]
Condition characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver cells, causing inflammation and liver cell injury
Occurs in people who drink little or no alcohol
Cullen’s sign
Superficial edema + bruising in the subcut fatty tissue around the umbilicus
Grey-Turner’s sign
Bruising of the flanks; may occur in conjunction w Cullen’s sign
Chvostek’s sign
Twitching of the facial muscles in response to tapping over the area of the facial nerve just anterior to the ear
Trousseau’s sign
Carpopedal spasm caused by inflation ofthe BP cuff to a level above systolic pressure for 3 mins
Looks like: adduction of the thumb, flexion of metacarpophalangeal joints, extension of the interphalangeal joints, and flexion of the wrist
Murphy’s sign
Elicited in pts w acute cholecystitis by asking the pt to take in and hold a deep breath while palpating the right subcostal area - if pain occurs on inspiration [when the inflamed gallbladder comes into contact w the examiner’s hand], Murphy’s sign is positive
Cholecystitis
Inflammed gallbladder
What is the hepatic portal system?
The hepatic portal system is a series of veins that carry blood from the capillaries of the stomach, intestine, spleen, and pancreas to capillaries in the liver.
Blood from the GI tract is drained by the superior + inferior mesenteric veins and then drained into the hepatic portal vein –> liver.
Detoxified blood from the liver drains into the hepatic veins and into the IVC [back to the heart]
What is the function of the Hepatic Portal System?
Its main function is to deliver de-oxygenated blood to the liver to be detoxified further before it returns to the heart.
What 2 types of blood does the liver receive from the superior + inferior mesenteric veins?
The liver receives both arterial + portal venous blood