further synthetic routes Flashcards
hepatocytes
liver cells
why is there a good blood supply to the liver
thi enables the liver cells to remove excess or unwanted substances from the blood
what are the two supplies of blood to the liver
the hepatic artery
the hepatic portal vein
what is the hepatic artery
carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the liver in order to supply oxygen for respiration
what is the hepatic portal vein
carries deoxygenated blood fro, the digestive system i order to be filtered of toxic and useful products
hepatic vein
the vessel through which blood leaves the liver
bile duct
carries bile from the liver to the gall bladder where it is stored untill required to aid digestion of fats in the small intestine
what is bile
a secretion from the liver which has functions in digestion and excretion.
also contains excretory product such as bile pigments which leave the body through feaces
how are the vessels and chambers inside the liver aranged to ensure the greatest possible contact between the blood and the liver cells
liver is divided into lobes which are further divided into lobules. the lobulea are cylindrical
what are inter lobular vessels
hepatic artery and portal vein split into smaller and smaller vessels. these run between and parallel to the lobules
what is a sinusoid
branches from the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein enter the lobules the blood from the two vessels are mixed and are passed along a sinusoid
what are kupffer cells
these are cells that move about within sinusoids and recycle old red blood cells
where does blood go after the sinusoid
intra lobular vessels:
the branches of hepatic vein from different lobules join together to form hepatic vein, which drains blood from the liver.
why is the cytoplasm of liver cells very dense
their many metabolic functions include:
protein synthesis, transformation and storage of carbohydrates,
synthesis of cholesterol and bile salts,
detoxification
define ornithine cycle
a series of biochemical reactions that convert ammonia to urea
what are the metabolic functions of the liver
control of blood glucose levels, amino acid levels , lipid levels
synthesis of bile, plasma proteins , cholesterol
synthesis of red blood cells in the fetus
storage of vitamins A, D andB12, iron, glycogen
detoxification of alcohol, drugs
breakdown of homones
destruction of red blood cells