9. 1 Liver

Question 1

Where is the liver located?

Answer 1

Upper right quadrant, against diaphragm

Question 2

What are the vessels that supply the liver?

Answer 2

Hepatic Portal Vein (75%) - brings blood from all of digestive tract, including pancreas and spleen, full of nutrients.
Hepatic artery (25%) - brings oxygenated blood, branch of coeliac trunk.

Question 3

Where is the bile produced and stored?

Answer 3

1L of bile is produced in the liver by hepatocytes every day, it travels down the bile canaliculi to leave the liver through R and L hepatic ducts which converge to form the common hepatic duct.
It is then stored in the gallbladder, and travels up the cystic duct and down the bile duct into the duodenum when food enters the stomach.

Question 4

What is unique about the portal system?

Answer 4

It consists of 2 capillary systems in series. First capillary system passes through GI tract, back to the portal vein and second capillary system in the liver before returning to the heart in the IVC.

Question 5

What travels in the portal vein?

Answer 5

Water
Electrolytes
Carbohydrates
Proteins- amino acids
Intestinal hormones - insulin
Toxins - urea

Question 6

What is NOT found in the portal vein, how else does it reach the liver?

Answer 6

Lipids and fat soluble vitamins.
Lipases, with the help of bile acids turn lipids into micelles which are taken up into cells.
Micelles form chylomicrons which are taken into lymphatics where they form CHYLE (lymph + chylomicrons). They then drain into thoracic duct and to the heart before entering the liver through the hepatic artery.