Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

understanding human disease > chap 14 - disorders of the liver and biliary tract, pancreas > Flashcards

chap 14 - disorders of the liver and biliary tract, pancreas Flashcards

1
Q

liver excrets

A

bile
- then it is stored in the gallbladder

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

pancreas secretes

A

digestive enzymes

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

portal veins and hepatic artery

A

dual blood supply

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

liver and biliary tree structure and function

A

Portal veins and hepatic artery - dual blood supply
Transport blood to liver
First- pass effect
Detoxification - breaks things down that can be harmful to our body into less harmful substances
Hepatocytes = liver cell
Liver sinusoids= leaky capillary → access to the blood
Kupffer cells = macrophages that stay in the liver all the time, they don’t circulate
Emulsifies fat - bile emulsifies → takes the lipids and breaks them down into smaller cells so that it can be broken down further

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

functions of the liver

A

Metabolism
CHO
Protein
Fat
Synthesis of bile
Detoxification
Storage
Vitamin B12
Fat Soluble Vitamins
Synthesis plasma proteins and clotting factors

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

function of the liver: clearance of waste products

A

Drug and hormone metabolism
Detoxification or inactivation
Cytochrome p450 enzymes
Synthesis of urea - comes from amino acids
Removal of bilirubin
Alcohol metabolism

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

functions of the liver: bilirubin metabolism

A

Liver only organ to remove heme waste products
Hemoglobin → Heme → Bilirubin
Iron reused
Globin chains reused
Bilirubin excreted by the liver

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

bilirubin metabolism

A

Liver conjugates bilirubin
Increases solubility
Secreted in bile
Also eliminated in urine

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

most frequent and serious problems of the liver

A

Choleliths (gallstones)
Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
Many causes - genetics, alcohol, obesity, etc.
Some forms are reversible, others are not

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

signs, symptoms, and tests for liver disorders

A

Jaundice
Often symptomatic of liver or gallbladder problem
Accumulation of bilirubin that hasn’t been excreted, can accumulate in a variety of places such as skin, eyes, tissues, gums, etc.
- biliary colic, unintentional weight loss, steatorrhea, hepatomegaly

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

biliary colic

A

Severe right upper quadrant and flank pain caused by obstruction of biliary ductal system by stones

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

unintentional weight loss

A

not absorbing food like you should
May signify serious pancreatic or liver disease

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

steatorrhea

A

Passage of smelly, greasy stools that float in water
Indicative of malabsorption of fats

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

hepatomegaly

A

Increase in size of liver
Prominent in alcoholic fatty liver and metastatic disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

liver tests

A

Liver Function Tests
Liver Enzymes - elevated in blood tests due to liver necrosis - they should be in the liver cells but if there is necrosis of a liver cell these enzymes will end up in the blood
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)
Alkaline Phosphatase (AP)
Albumin - important for plasma oncotic pressure
Clotting time - the liver makes clotting proteins

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

viral hepatitis

A

Hepatitis = Inflammation Of The Liver
Only infect the liver cells
Systemic viral disease primarily affecting liver
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D, E
Distinguished by: - know how to compare and contrast them for the exam
Mode of transmission
Carrier State
Chronic
Vaccine

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

hepatitis A

A

HAV - acute
- Primarily fecal-oral transmission, mucosal secretions
- Ingestion of infected material
- Absorption from stomach or small intestine
- Replication in liver
- Secretion into bile
- Excretion in stool or reabsorption
- Abrupt onset of symptoms
- Fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- Enlarged, tender liver and dark urine
- Serum AST strikingly elevated (liver enzyme)
- More common in developing nations
- about 10,000 new cases/yr in US
- Poor water
- People who don’t wash their hands → restaurants
- Poor sanitation
- No specific treatment- rest, self-limiting the body will eventually fight the virus and get better
- You do not become a carrier
- Fatalities rare
- Vaccine - yes (standard)

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

hepatitis B

A

HBV
- Can cause acute illness that manifests with fever, malaise, and jaundice (more severe then hep. a)
- Infected individual may:
- Become an asymptomatic carrier
- Develop chronic hepatitis and eventually cirrhosis (small amount of people develop chronic hepatitis)
- Transmitted through contact with infected blood, body fluids, shared needles, sex
- Fetus in utero or during vaginal delivery
- Vaccine available (standard)
- Acute and Chronic → could lead to cirrhosis and become chronic
- Can become a carrier

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

hepatitis C

A
  • Spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact
  • 80% of hepatitis C cases result in chronic hepatitis
  • Risk Factors - transmitted like hep. B
    • Contact With Blood Artwork
    • Unprotected sex(less common than B)
    • Blood Transfusion
  • No vaccine - because the virus mutates
  • Treatment
    - Direct-acting antiviral(DAA)drugs
    - Introduced in 2011
    - 12 weeks of treatment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

hepatitis D

A

Depends on hepatitis B for replication - have to have both infections
Getting the vaccine for B will prevent both hep. B and hep. D

21
Q

hepatitis E

A

Fecal-oral transmission - like hep. A
Developing countries
Mild and self-limiting
Epidemic in India

22
Q

chemical injury to the liver

A

Many pharmaceutical drugs have been linked to liver injury
Why?
Can Be Predictable Or Idiosyncratic
Patients with severe acute or chronic liver disease are more susceptible to toxic hepatic injury
Examples
Acetaminophen
Drug of choice for people attempting suicide
Most common drug accidentally ingested in large doses by children
Large doses lead to production of metabolic by-product highly toxic to hepatocytes

23
Q

fatty liver disease

A

Fat accumulates in hepatocytes secondary to injury
Hepatic Steatosis
Most common causes are alcohol and obesity
Impaired liver function but injury is still reversible
Can lead to steatohepatitis - inflammation due to fat accumulation
Typically asymptomatic

24
Q

cholethiasis

A
  • gallstones in the gallbladder or biliary tree (anywhere along the duct)
  • Usually have multiple stones
  • About 1 million new cases/yr in US
  • 50% require surgery - removal of the gallbladder
  • Usually no symptoms until they begin to move; mid-size stones are the worst
  • Painful cramps in RUQ
    - Often after meals - the gallbladder contracts when you have a meal, it will contract the most after a fatty meal, the pain will begin as the gallbladder begins to contact in order to release bile
  • Nausea/vomiting - usually don’t vomit for no reason
    Complications include
  • Cholecystitis = inflame the gallbladder
  • Pancreatitis = inflammation of the pancreas
  • Perforation = through the gallbladder wall
  • Can be seen in an ultrasound
25
types of coleiatheisis
cholesterol and pigmented
26
complications of gallstones
Biliary Obstruction = obstructing the flow Jaundice Cholecystitis Perforation Infection-Peritonitis Gallbladder cancer Pancreatitis
27
liver neoplasms
Types Primary = cancer originates in the liver Hepatocellular carcinoma Most often due to chronic hepatitis - hepatitis C is the most common to cause chronic hepatitis Metastatic Most liver neoplasm has metastasized to liver from somewhere else (colon, lung, stomach,breast) A lot of cancers in the abdominal region Poor prognosis - because you can’t live without your liver and there is no dialysis for the liver
28
primary liver neoplasm
cancer originates in the liver Hepatocellular carcinoma Most often due to chronic hepatitis - hepatitis C is the most common to cause chronic hepatitis
29
metastatic liver neoplasm
Most liver neoplasm has metastasized to liver from somewhere else (colon, lung, stomach,breast) A lot of cancers in the abdominal region
30
liver failure
Acute liver failure - fulminant Results from massive death of hepatocytes Most common causes: Viral hepatitis - hep. C and hep B. Drug reactions - the liver has to detoxify drugs Can be fatal
31
cirrhosis
Describes end stage of most serious chronic types of liver disease Replacing liver cells with scar tissue not hepatocytes, the scar tissue doesn't have any function Characterized By: Fibrosis
32
causes of cirrhosis
Chronic hepatitis Chronic alcohol consumption Biliary obstruction - gallstones Cryptogenic = don’t know the cause, hidden cause
33
treatment for cirrhosis
liver transplant is the only treatment
34
clinical features of cirrhosis
Failure To Metabolize estrogen and ammonia - these are normal functions of the liver so when function is disrupted this occurs One of the functions of the liver is to get rid of urea -- ammonia accumulates if the urea isn't removed from the body, comes from the breakdown of amino acids, ammonia is converted to urea (done by the liver) so if ammonia is converted to urea and excreted then it builds up in the body Gynecomastia - development of breast tissue in males Protein Synthesis failure Edema - due to the liver is not making albumin Excretory Failure - not getting rid of the bilirubin Complications Portal hypertension - hypertension in your liver, not a lot of treatment for that The blood isn't going through the liver like is should, like a clogged up interstate Passive congestion and enlargement of spleen The hepatic portal vein becomes congested with blood, blood builds up in the spleen and leads to enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly) Hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy
35
hepatic encephalopathy
Deterioration of brain function characterized by impaired consciousness, confusion, disorientation, and eventually coma From accumulation of toxic substances in the blood that are normally detoxified and excreted by the liver Toxic products include ammonia from deamination of amino acids
36
alcoholic liver disease
Refers to a group of structural and functional changes in the liver resulting from excessive alcohol consumption Liver is the only site that breaks down alcohol Severity depends on amount and duration of alcohol consumption 3 stages of progression Alcoholic fatty liver - the priority of the liver becomes detoxifying the alcohol, so it only focuses on that rather than breaking down lipids and shipping them out, then fats start to accumulate - this is why it can be reversible Alcoholic hepatitis - may or may not be reversible Alcoholic cirrhosis
37
pancreas
Pancreas Has exocrine and endocrine components Primarily made up of glands, or acini, that secrete digestive enzymes into pancreatic duct Islets of Langerhans produce insulin and glucagon (two main hormones of the endocrine pancreas)
38
most frequent and serious problems of the pancreas
Pancreatic conditions Inflammation of the pancreas Usually associated with alcohol or gallstones(#1 cause) Ranges from mild and self-limited to severe and fulminant Carcinoma of the pancreas Diabetes mellitus
39
genetic diseases of the pancreas
Cystic Fibrosis - Pancreas disfigured and destroyed by mucus plug: - Blocks pancreatic ducts - if the release is blocked the pancreas starts to digest itself - Patient suffers repeated bouts of pancreatitis - Damage to pancreas is irreversible
40
pancreatitis
Inflammation and autodigestion of pancreas by pancreatic digestive juices Manifestations Severe upper abdominal pain Anorexia = loss of appetite Malabsorption = you aren't release the digestive enzymes necessary for digestion and absorption Hemorrhagic pancreatitis Surgical Emergency Progress to shock Diagnosis → leakage of the enzymes into the blood, specifically amylase and lipase, they leak into blood because the pancreas its digesting itself and it goes into the blood, these are normally found in the cells but when the cells are damage they begin to leak out
41
types of pancreastitis
acute and chronic
42
acute pancreatitis
Reversible inflammation Rapid onset of symptoms Pain Nausea Anorexia Causes Chronic alcohol abuse causes 2/3 of cases. Half of patients have gallstones
43
chronic pancreatitis
Irreversible Caused by repeated bouts of acute pancreatitis Damaging the pancreas and putting scar tissue down Chronic alcohol abuse causes 2/3 of cases. Half of patients have gallstonesFibrosis of pancreatic tissue Symptoms Malabsorption Steatorrhea - fat in the stool due to not secreting lipase the enzyme that breaks down the fat Hemorrhage Complications Diabetes - damage to the islets that release insulin
44
conditions causing chronic injury to pancreas
Cystic fibrosis Acute pancreatitis Repeated attacks of gallstone pancreatitis Obstruction of pancreatic ducts by diseases
45
pancreatitis diagnosis
Treatment Limit activity of gland - get all your nutrition from an IV, have to not eat in order to rest the pancreas - many people don't want to rest which can lead to repeated bouts Total Parenteral nutrition
46
pancreatic cancer
Tumors in endocrine or exocrine portion Islet tumors usually benign (endocrine) Exocrine more common = Pancreatic ducts - pancreatic carcinoma because epithelial cells make the ducts Poor Prognosis - late discovery leads to metastasize, no screening test, lots of organs nearby so by the time it presents it has already spread Why So Deadly? Most occur in head of the pancreas - a mass may lead to juandice
47
risk factors for pancreatic cancer
African-American Age (age associated) Overweight or obese Cigarette smoking Pancreatitis - caused by alcohol and gallstones Family history Heavy alcohol intake
48
symptoms of pancreatic cancer
Fatty stools Pain in upper quadrant (wouldn't happen till advanced) Not a lot of symptoms associated until it is advanced
49
two main symptoms/complications of pancreatic cancer
jaundice and weight loss

understanding human disease (25 decks)

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