Chapter 9.4 metabolism and the liver

Question 1

What is the definition of metabolism?

Answer 1

Metabolism, the sum of the chemical reactions that take place within each cell of a living organism and that provide energy for vital processes and for synthesizing new organic material.

Question 2

What is the function of the hepatic vein located on the liver?

Answer 2

The hepatic veins carry oxygen-depleted blood from the liver to the inferior vena cava. They also transport blood that has been drained from the colon, pancreas, small intestine, and the stomach, and cleaned by the liver.

Question 3

What is the function of the hepatic portal vein?

Answer 3

The hepatic portal vein is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents.

Question 4

What is the GI tract (gastrointestinal tract)?

Answer 4

The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.

Question 5

What is the function of the hepatic artery?

Answer 5

The hepatic artery is a short blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, pylorus(opening from stomach to duodenum) of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Question 6

Name four metabolic reactions.

Answer 6

• The conversion of glucose to starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
• The formation of lipid molecules from a molecule of glycerol and three fatty acid molecules.
• The use of glucose and nitrate ions to form amino acids that are then used to make protein.
• Reactions of respiration