Functions of The liver

Question 1

What do hepatocytes do in relation to the function of the liver?

Answer 1

-in response to insulin, they absorb excess glucose from blood and convert it into glycogen
-in response to glucagon, hepatocytes hydrolyse glycogen back into glucose
-releasing it into the blood

Question 2

What is detoxification?

Answer 2

-neutralisation and breakdown of unwanted chemicals

Question 3

Where does detoxification take place?

Answer 3

-on smooth endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes

Question 4

What is the process of detoxification of alcohol?

Answer 4

1. alcohol is converted from ethanol into ethanal
2. and then ethanoate
3. enters krebs cycles to produce energy and ATP
4. ethanol contains lots of energy

Question 5

What is the concentration of pure alcohol?

Answer 5

29 kJ g-1

Question 6

What can alcohol abuse cause?

Answer 6

1. fatty liver
2. hepatitis
3. cirrhosis

Question 7

What is fatty liver?

Answer 7

-NAD is used to oxidise fatty acids
-if reduced = NAD can’t oxidise
-therefore converted into fat build up

Question 8

What is cirrhosis?

Answer 8

-damaged hepatocytes replaced by fibrous tissue
-structure of blood supply is lost
-increase in ammonia conc can cause major damage to CNS