Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

104 Theme 2 - Liver and Metabolism > Anatomy of the liver > Flashcards

Anatomy of the liver Flashcards

1
Q

What is the largest gland in the body?

A

Liver

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the macroscopic features of the liver?

A

Wedge shaped reddish brown organ

Highly vascularised

Pliable to touch; easily lacerated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where is the liver located?

A
  • Below diaphragm
  • Right of the stomach
  • Above the colon

Overlies gallbladder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the main functions of the liver?

A

detoxification

protein synthesis

production of bile – aids lipid digestion

glycogen storage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Which quadrant (of 9) is the liver in?

A

Located below diaphragm: mostly the right hypochondrium & epigastrium, but extends into left hypochondrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The liver is below the ribs

True or false?

A

False

The liver is covered by the ribs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Label the diagram

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Label the anterior view of the liver

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Label the posterior view of the liver

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How does the diaphragm affect the gross anatomy of the liver?

A

Diaphagmatic upper surface blunt, dome shaped/ sharp inferior border

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the lobes of the liver?

A

Ant. view – divided into two main lobes: left and right

• Post. view – two other lobes: quadrate and caudate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which part of the liver is covered by peritoneum?

A

Surface covered by peritoneum except bare area, where it touches the diaphragm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What seperates the lobes?

A

Falciform (ant) and lesser omentum (post) ligaments separate right and left lobes

• Porta hepatis divides the quadrate and caudate lobes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the peritoneal folds?

A

•Falciform ligament

links anterior abdominal wall to liver

ligamentum teres (aka round ligament*) at lower end

  • Coronary ligaments - links diaphragm to liver
  • Lesser omentum - links liver to stomach
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the round ligament?

A

Obliterated left umbilical vein

extends to umbilicus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Complete the diagram on periotoneal folds

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Where is the lesser omentum?

A

•From the lesser curvature stomach to porta hepatis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Which omentum has a free edge?

A

Lesser omentum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the lesser omentum made of?

A

Ventral mesentry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does the lesser omentum enclose?

A

hepatic artery

portal vein

bile duct

lymph vessels

• Close to the stomach it also encloses the gastric arteries and veins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where does the blood supply to the gut originate from?

A

• All midline branches of the abdominal aorta

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the blood supply to the gut?

A

Foregut – coeliac artery / trunk

Midgut – superior mesenteric artery

Hindgut – inferior mesenteric artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Label the blood supply to the gut

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the blood supply to the liver?

A
  • Hepatic artery, a branch from the coeliac trunk brings oxygenated blood from the heart
  • Portal vein, formed by the coming together of the sup mesenteric + splenic veins, brings deoxygenated blood from the gut, carrying nutrients, drugs, toxins etc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the 3 main branches of the coeliac artery/trunk/axis and what does it also supply?
left gastric (to stomach) splenic (to spleen) hepatic (to liver) duodenum pancreas
26
Where does the coeliac artery exit the aorta?
• Exits aorta at T12/L1 Level
27
Complete the diagram of arteries
28
Label the diagram on hepatic arteries
29
Hepatic artery variations are seen in \_\_\_\_\_\_\_% of people
40-45%
30
What are the common hepatic artery variations?
•Most common cases\*: right hepatic artery replaced to the SMA left hepatic artery replaced to the left gastric artery trifurcation of the common hepatic artery * right hepatic artery * left hepatic artery * gastroduodenal artery (GDA)
31
When is a patient tested for hepatic artery variation?
• Critical test done prior to any surgery to the liver
32
Where is the porta hepatis?
At hilum of liver – visceral surface
33
What is the porta hepatis?
* Deep fissure – 5 cm * Entry / exit point for hepatic portal vein hepatic artery proper common hepatic duct nerves and lymphatics
34
What happens to the porta hepatis once it enters the liver?
35
Why is the liver divided into lobes and segments?
* Metabolism – portal system * Production and secretion of bile and to perform these roles the liver is divided into lobes and segments
36
What are liver segements?
•Liver lobes are subdivided into segments (termed Couinaud) according to how the hepatic artery and portal vein subdivide
37
What does a liver segement contain?
* Branches of hepatic artery and portal vein carry blood into sinusoids * Tributaries of the bile ducts accompany the two above, but carrying bile in the opposite direction. All three structures are called portal triad
38
Why is knowledge of liver segements important?
Knowledge as to how segments are vascularized is also crucial knowledge for liver transplants or surgery
39
40
What does a liver lobe contain?
* Each lobe of liver contains several lobules (functional units of the liver) * Each hexagon (lobule) has a portal triad at each corner
41
What are lobules?
• Hexagon shaped and contain hepatocytes (~60% of the liver cell population)
42
Complete the diagram of the lobule
43
Hepatocytes are responsible for what metabolic functions?
•Synthesis and release plasma proteins into blood, e.g. albumin clotting factors * Deaminates amino acids, creating ammonia (this is then converted into urea in order to be safe) * Converting bilirubin to bile pigment * Production of bile salts, to emulsify fats
44
How does venous drainage of the liver work?
* The ‘mixed’ blood from the two sources (portal and hepatic) in the sinusoids passes through the hepatocytes and from there into the central vein * Several central veins then drain into the interlobular (sublobular) vein * Interlobular/sublobular veins then drain into hepatic veins * Finally, hepatic veins drain into the inferior vena cava
45
Where is the central vein?
• The central vein is found at the center of a hepatic lobule
46
Complete the diagram of venous drainage of the lobule
47
Complete the diagram on venous drainage
48
What is the difference between the portal venous system and the systemic venous system?
* The portal venous system is described as blood draining the GI tract towards the liver * This is distinct from the systemic venous system, which drains the rest of the body, E.g. muscles or skin, towards the heart
49
Where does portal vein blood come from?
50
What is the significance of portal circulation for drugs?
•Toxins, drugs etc. that are absorbed from the GI have to pass through the liver before reaching the heart
51
What is portocaval anastomosis?
* Communications between some branches of the portal and systemic systems is crucial for survival * These are known as portocaval anastomosis
52
When is portocaval anasomosis important?
* This anastomosis is particularly important if the portal vein becomes blocked or passage via liver meets resistance – portal hypertension * Blood is therefore allowing to travel collateral to the liver on its return to the heart, without which subject would die
53
Name 4 Examples of portal systemic anastomosis
54
What is portal hypertension?
* Is a fairly common clinical condition * Any obstruction to the portal vein
55
What are common presentation signs of portal hypertension?
Varicoses Caput medusa ; oesophageal varices
56
What is a Portacaval shunt?
* A shunt was traditionally employed to ameliorate hypertension * It effectively diverted blood from portal vein to the IVC
57
What treatment replaced portacaval shunts?
• However this has largely been abandoned since the advent of TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting)
58
What is the livers role in bile production?
* Bile is secreted by hepatocytes into (bile) canaliculi, at a rate of around 40 ml/ hr * Bile canaliculi join to form two main hepatic ducts – Left and Right – that drain the respective lobes * Emerge from porta – unite to form common hepatic duct
59
How does bile enter the duodenum?
• Although bile flows continuously towards the duodenum it is prevented entry by a closed sphincter of Oddi, located at the end of the biliary tree
60
How is lymph drained from the liver?
* Liver produces vast amount of lymph, that drain into the coeliac nodes located in the vicinity of porta hepatis * Coeliac nodes in turn drain to cisterna chyli
61
What does this ultrasound show?
Liver trauma
62
How does liver trauma occur?
* Closely related to lower ribs * Fracture ribs / penetrating wounds
63
Why is liver trauma so dangerous?
• High vascularisation =\> severe haemorrhage
64
Why would a doctor remove portions of a liver?
• Remove portions due to segmental nature liver and vessels / ducts supplying it liver biopsies metastatic spread cirrhosis

104 Theme 2 - Liver and Metabolism (15 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions