Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Disorders

Question 1

What are the functions of the liver?

Answer 1

metabolism
storage
detoxification
bile production
immune function

Question 2

What are the two main blood vessels of the liver?

Answer 2

hepatic artery– brings oxygen-rich blood from the heart

portal vein– carries nutrient rich (but oxygen poor) blood from the digestive tract

Question 3

What connects the liver to the gallbladder?

Answer 3

bile ducts– they transport bile from the liver to the duodenum

Question 4

What is bile used for?

Answer 4

bile helps the duodenum digest and absorb fats

Question 5

What is the difference between the common hepatic duct and the common bile duct?

Answer 5

hepatic duct delivers bile to the gallbladder

bile duct delivers bile to the duodenum

Question 6

Which vitamins does bile help to absorb?

Answer 6

fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K

Question 7

What are the two functional parts of the pancreas and what do they do?

Answer 7

acini– produce enzymes for nutrient digestion (exocrine)

islets– produce hormones for blood glucose regulation (endocrine)

Question 8

What are common complications due to cirrhosis?

Answer 8

ascites, esophageal varices bleeds, and cerebral edema

Question 9

What is portal HTN?

Answer 9

abnormally high blood pressure in the portal venous system caused by resistance to portal blood flow

most commonly caused by liver cirrhosis and right-sided heart failure

Question 10

What are the types of portal HTN?

Answer 10

varices (distended veins due to accumulation of blood)

splenomegaly (spleen enlargement)

hepatopulmonary syndrome (portal HTN activates vasodilation of pulmonary arterioles, which leads to lung impairment)

Question 11

Define ascites

Answer 11

accumulation of fluid in peritoneal cavity– can lead to third spacing

most common cause is liver cirrhosis

Question 12

Describe hepatic encephalopathy

Question 13

Describe hepatorenal syndrome

Question 14

What is cholelithiasis?

Answer 14

gallstones– hardened deposits of bile that can form in the gallbladder or the bile ducts

they cause pain, nausea, vomiting, and other digestive problems

most common in women, people over the age of 60, and those who are overweight or have a family history of gallstones

Question 15

What is cholecystitis?

Answer 15

a condition in which the gallbladder becomes inflamed, usually due to a blockage caused by a gallstone

symptoms include severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting

Question 16

What is choledocholithiasis?

Answer 16

a condition in which a gallstone gets lodge in the common bile duct (which carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine)

can cause abdominal pain, fever, jaundice and other complications