Functions of the Liver and Hepatobiliary System Flashcards
In which abdominal quadrant is the liver located?
In the right hypochondrium.
What is the name of the upper right abdominal quadrant?
Right hypochondrium.
What is the name of the upper middle abdominal qudrant?
Epigastric region.
What is the name of the upper left abdominal quadrant?
Left hypochondrium.
What is the name of the middle right abdominal quadrant?
Right lumbar.
What is the name of the central abdominal quadrant?
Umbilical region.
What is the name of the middle left abdominal quadrant?
Left region.
What is the name of the bottom right abdominal quadrant?
Right iliac region.
What is the name of the bottom middle abdominal quadrant?
Hypogastrium.
What is the name of the bottom left abdominal quadrant?
Left iliac region.
How many lobes comprise the liver?
What separates these lobes?
2.
Falciform ligament.
What is the name of the ligament that hangs inferior to the falciform ligament?
Ligamentum teres.
What is the name of the infero-postero-medial part of the right lobe?
Quadrate lobe.
What is the name of the supero-postero medial part of the right lobe?
Caudate lobe.
Where does the gallbladder lie in relation to the liver?
On the posterior aspect of the right lobe, lateral to the quadrate lobe.
What is fibrosis?
The formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in response to tissue damage.
Where does hepatic bile drain into?
Through which duct is bile transferred?
The duodenum, through the common bile duct.
Which muscle contracts to secrete bile?
The hepatopancreatic sphincter.
What is the function unit of the liver?
What 4 things is it composed of?
A liver lobule.
1 - Hepatocytes.
2 - Sinusoidal channels.
3 - Inlet and outlet blood vessels.
4 - Bile canaliculi.
What does the portal vein carry?
Venous blood from the gut.
What does the hepatic artery carry?
Arterial blood.
Where do hepatic veins drain into after leaving the liver?
Into the inferior vena cava.
List 4 locations in the liver where connective tissue can be found.
1 - Capsule.
2 - Perivascular.
3 - Surrounding the portal tract.
4 - Reticular network (holds cells in place).
Which cells produce the ECM materials that compose the connective tissue of the liver?
Stellate cells.
What is the function of glycoproteins in the connective tissue of the liver?
To help orientate the cells correctly.
Link cells to collagen and ECM.
What is the difference between an acinus and a lobule?
Both are views of the function unit of the liver, however:
An acinus is centered on portal tracts and bile ducts.
Whereas a lobule is centered on central veins.
What is a bile canaliculus?
The thin tubes that connects bile secreted by hepatocytes.
Merge to form ductules, which form the common hepatic duct.
What type of epithelia compose the endothelium of the liver?
Squamous epithelium.
What are the two functions of the endothelium specific to the liver?
1 - To protect the parenchyma from blood cells, bacteria and viruses.
2 - To filter fluids.
List 5 normal endothelium functions.
1 - Anti-thrombogenic functions.
2 - Regulation of coagulation.
3 - Regulation of leukocyte traffic.
4 - Selective uptake of solutes.
5 - Scavenging of waste products.
What is the function of Kupffer cells?
Act as macrophages.
- Produce cytokines,
-
Where are Kupffer cells found?
Within the sinusoids.
What comprises a portal triad?
1 - Hepatic artery.
2 - Hepatic portal vein.
3 - Bile ductules.
4 - Lymphatic vessels.
5 - Branch of vagus nerve.
What are stellate cells?
What shape do they have?
How does their shape change in response to the environment?
Perisinusoidal fat storing cells, aid in production of ECM.
Normally star shaped with multiple branching membranous processes.
Adopt a more fibroblast-like morphology in disease.
What are the 2 primary digestive functions of the liver?
1 - Carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
2 - Storage of vitamins and minerals.
List 2 examples of biological molecules synthesised in the liver.
1 - Cholesterol.
2 - Bile.
3 - Albumin.
4 - Fibronectin (and components of coagulation cascade).
5 - Plasminogen.
6 - Alpha-1 antitrypsin.
7 - Transferrin.
8 - Hepcidin (regulator of iron entry into blood circulation).
List 4 detoxification and elimination functions of the liver.
1 - Urinary excretion (solubilisation of compoudns).
2 - Biliary excretion (lipophilic compounds).
3 - Biotransformation of drugs (Phase 1 = oxidation by P450 and Phase 2 = conjugation)
4 - Elimination of ammonia.
What is liver cirrhosis?
An advanced stage of liver fibrosis with distortion of the hepatic vasculature and structure.
List 3 complications of liver cirrhosis.
1 - Ascites (accumulation of protein-containing (ascitic) fluid within the abdomen).
2 - Varices (extremely dilated submucosal veins due to portal hypertension).
4 - Renal failure.
What are the 3 main drivers of cirrhosis?
1 - Viral infection.
2 - Alcohol.
3 - Metabolic syndrome.
What is viral hepatitis?
- Viruses selectively infect hepatocytes.
- Very strong immune response -> immune system kills infected hepatocytes.
List 5 symptoms and risks associated with non alcoholic fatty liver disease.
1 - Insulin resistance.
2 - Lipotoxicity.
3 - Oxidant stress.
4 - Apoptosis.
5 - Inflammation
List 3 possible causes of damage to the liver that may result in fibrosis.
1 - Virus / infection.
2 - Toxins (ethanol).
3 - Autoimmunity.
