Anatomy of the Liver Flashcards
What is bilirubin?
A breakdown product of haem
Note: haemoglobin is broken down into:
Iron
Globin
Haem
How does bilirubin travel in the blood and what is it called when it travels in this way?
Delta bilirubin
Bound to albumin
What happens when bilirubin gets to the liver?
It gets conjugated with glucuronic acid
What happens to conjugated bili?
Gets secreted with bile acids into duodenum and travels to jejunum (small intestine) and then to the terminal ileum
What happens to the bile acid in the small intestine?
Most bile salts are reabsorbed through enterohepatic circulation, however conjugated bilirubin is not reabsorbed
What happens to the conjugated bilirubin at the terminal ileum/colon?
Bacteria REMOVE the glucuronic acid, forming urobilinogen
What is urobilinogen?
The thing that remains when bacteria remove glucuronic acid from conjugated bilirubin
What happens to urobilinogen?
It is oxidised to become stercobilin, giving faeces their colour
What do you call the duct branching from the liver?
Common hepatic duct
What do you call the duct branching from the gall bladder?
Cystic duct
What do you call the joining of the common hepatic and cystic ducts?
Common bile duct
What do you call the sphincter where the pancreatic duct meets the duodenum?
Ampulla of Vater
