Hepatobiliary Function Flashcards
1
Q
- Main functions of the liver
A
- Bile production and secretion
- Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
- Bilirubin production and excretion
- Detoxification of substances
2
Q
- What two arteries drain into the hepatic portal vein that supplies the liver?
- What organs are supplied by these vessels?
A
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Inferior mesenteric artery
- Pancreas
- Small intestine
- Colon
3
Q
- Which artery drains into the hepatic artery?
- What organs are supplied by this vessel?
A
- Celiac
- Liver
- Spleen
- Stomach
4
Q
- Liver role in carbohydrate metabolism
A
- Gluconeogenesis
- Storage of glucose as glycogen
- Release of glucose
- Glycogenolysis
5
Q
- Liver role in protein metabolism
- Liver failure can result in _ which decreases capillary oncotic pressure favoring fluid reabsorption into the capillaries and causes edema
A
- Synthesis of amino acids
- Modification of amino acids for use in biosynthetic pathways for carbohydrate
- Synthesis of almost all plasma proteins (albumin and clotting factors)
- Conversion of ammonia to urea
- Hypoalbuminemia
6
Q
- Liver role in lipid metabolism
A
- Fatty acid oxidation (to produce acetyl coA)
- Synthesis of lipoproteins, cholesterol, and phospholipids-components of bile
7
Q
- Cirrhosis
A
- Normal liver cells replaced with scar tissue
- Alcohol most common cause
- Leads to fatty liver and steatohepatitis
- Fatty liver w/ inflammation that leads to scarring of the liver, and eventually, cirrhosis
- Leads to fatty liver and steatohepatitis
8
Q
- Portal HTN
A
- Sinusoidal pressure > 5 mmHg
- Often caused by cirrhosis
- Can lead to:
- Esophageal varices-swollen connection between systemic and portal systems at inferior end of esophagus
- Caput medusase-swollen connections between systemic and portal systems around the umbilicus
9
Q
- How can liver dysfunction lead to hepatomegaly?
A
- Decreased urea metabolism in the liver (decreased urease activity)
- Accumulation of ammonia in the systemic circulation
- Ammonia crosses BBB and alters brain function

10
Q
- What are the components of bile?
- What is the function of bile?
A
- Bile salts (50%)
- Bile pigments (2%)- EX Bilirubin
- Cholesterol (4%)
- Phospholipids (40%)-EX Lecithin
- Ions
- Water
- Vehicle for elimination of substances from the body
- Emulsification of fats
11
Q
- What are the primary bile acids?
- Where are they made?
A
- Cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid
- Liver
12
Q
- What are the secondary bile acids?
- Where are they made?
- What enzyme is key?
A
- Deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid
- Lumen of small intestine
- 7 alpha dehydroxylase
13
Q
- What are the bile salts?
- Where are they conjugated?
A
- Glycodeoxycholic acid
- Taurodeoxycholic acid
- Liver
14
Q
- What organs are responsible for the synthesis, storage, secretion, and recycling of bile?
A
- Liver-synthesis and secretion
- Gallbladder and bile duct-storage and concentration
- Duodenum-emulsification and digestion of fats
- Jejunum-micelle formation and fat absorption
- Ileum-active absorption of bile acids back to portal circulation
- Portal circulation-delivers recycled bile back to liver
15
Q
- Mechanism of bile secretion and absorption of bile salts
A
- Synthesis and secretion of bile salts
- Bile salts stored and concentrated in gallbladder (absorption of ions and H20)
- CCK-induced gallbladder contraction and relaxation of Sphincter of Oddi
- Absorption of bile salts into portal circulation
- Delivery of bile salts back to the liver

16
Q
- Together with the newly synthesized bile acids, the returning bile acids are secreted into _
- This is secreted by ductule cells in response to _
A
- Bile canaliculi
- Osmotic effects of anion transport
17
Q
- What transporters aid in the recirculation of bile salts?
- Where are these transporters located?
A
- NTCP (sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide on basolateral surface of hepatocytes
- OATPs on the basolateral surface of the enterocytes of intestine

18
Q
- What other transporter, besides the NTCP, is present in hepatocytes?
A
- BSEP and MRP2 on apical surface of hepatocytes aid in bile secretion into lumen
19
Q
- What other transporters, besides the OSTA-B are present on enterocytes?
A
- ASBT (Apical Sodium Dependent Bile Acid Transporter) on the APICAL surface of the enterocyte aids in bile reabsorption
20
Q
- What percentage of bile is reabsorbed?
- What percentage of bile is excreted?
- What percentage of bile is continuously being synthesized de novo?
A
- 90-95%
- 5%
- 5%
21
Q
- Relationship between rates of bile acid synthesis and secretion
A
- increased bile secretion normally increases rate of return of bile acids to liver, which exerts a negative feedback on synthesis
- Cholesterol 7 alpha hydroxylase is inhibited by bile salts
- Interruption of enterohepatic circulation can increase synthesis values x 10

22
Q
- Bile secretion occurs via what two mechanisms
A
- Bile acid (movement of cations into canaliculus)
- Secretin

23
Q
- Bile flow during interdigestive period
- Bile flow upon eating
A
- Interdigestive period:
- Gallbladder fills with bile and is relaxed
- Sphincter of Oddi is closed
- Eating (CCK mediated)
- Contraction of gallbladder
- Relaxation of Sphincter of Oddi
24
Q
- What enzyme is responsible for the conversion of unconjugated bilirubin to conjugated bilirubin?
A
- UDP Glucouronyl transferase (+ Glucouronic acid)

25
* What components of bilirubin metabolism contribute to the formation of dark colored stools?
* What component of bilirubin metabolism makes your pee yellow?
* Urobilin
* Stercobilin
* Both excreted in the feces
* Urobilin

26
* Where does bilirubin come from?
* How does it travel to the liver?
* Hemolysis of RBCs
* Travels with plasma albumin as a protein carrier
27
* Factors regulating various GI secretions

28
* ***Jaundice***
* Hyperbilirubinemia (lots of unconjugated bilirubin)
* Yellow discoloration of sclera, skin, and mucous membranes
* Measurement of total serum bilirubin allows for quantification of jaundice
* Can be conjugated or unconjugated
29
* Direct is _ bilirubin
* Indirect is _ bilirubin
* Conjugated
* Unconjugated
30
* ***What can cause unconjugated jaundice?***
* Hemolytic anemia
* Increased levels of unconjugated bilirubin d/t heart failure (less bilirubin being delivered to the liver for conjugation)
* Gilbert's (uptake by liver)
* Gilbert's or Crigler-Najjar (Can't conjugate bilirubin)
31
* ***What can cause conjugated jaundice?***
* Dubin Johnson, Rotor Syndromes (inhibited secretion gto bile)
* Biliary tree obstruction (failure of passage of bile, ie: gallstones)
32
* ***Hemolytic anemia***
* Increased bilirubin from hemolysis overwhelms liver's capacity to conjugate bilirubin
* High levels of unconjugated bilirubin
* Pallor of skin common in individuals with this condition
33
* ***Physiological neonatal jaundice***
* High levels of unconjugated bilirunin in blood 1 week postnatal
* **Caused by:**
* **Increased breakdown of fetal erythrocytes**
* **Low activity of UDP Glucouronyl Transferase**
* SX: Fatigue and poor feeding
34
* ***Gilbert Syndrome***
* **Mutation in gene for UDP glucouronyltransferase**
* **UGT-1A1 activity 30% of normal**
* 30% have no signs or symptoms
* Those with symptoms usually experience episodes of hyperbilirubinemia when the body is under physiological stress
* Additional factors interfering with glucouronidation process may be necessary for development
* Usually presents in adolescence
35
* ***Crigler Najjar Syndrome Type I***
* Starts early in life (jaundice at birth or infancy)
* **NO FUNCTION OF UDP GLUCOURONYLTRANSFERASE**
* **Kernicterus:** form of brain damage caused by the accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin in the brain and nervous tissue (develops during 1st year postnatally-Clinical features: cerebral palsy, sensorineural hearing loss, gaze abnormalities)
* Treat with phototherapy

36
* ***Crigler Najjar Type II***
* Starts later in life
* **Less than 20% function of UDP Glucouronyltransferase**
* **Less likely to develop kernicterus**
* Most affected individuals survive into adulthood
37
* ***Treatments for Crigler-Najjar syndrome***
* **Phototherapy** (throughout life-works best thru age 4 tho cuz of thin skin)
* **Blood transfusions-**control amount of bilirubin in blood
* **Oral calcium phosphate and carbonate**-form complexes with bilirubin in gut
* **Liver transplant:** type 1 usually
* **Phenobarbitol**: Treat type II and aid in conjugation of bilirubin
38
* ***Dubin Johnson***
* Increased conjugated bilirubin in serum without elevation of liver enzymes
* **Mutations in MRP2**
* ****Remember that this is found on apical surface of hepatocytes and functions to excrete bilirubin into the bile
* Can't secrete conjugated bilirubin into the bile
* Mild jaundice thru life (usually only symptom)
* Can be made worse thru: alcohol, birth control, infection, pregnancy****
* **Liver has black pigmentation**
* ****Result of intracellular melanin
* Histologically normal
39
* ***Rotor Syndrome***
* **Gene mutation in OATP1B1 and OATP1B3 proteins** found in hepatocytes on **basolateral membrane** (can't transport bilirubin from blood into the liver)
* Buildup of **both conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin (but more so conjugated)**
* Liver cells are not pigmented
* Similar to Dubin-Johnson
40
* Summary of cellular mechanisms underlying inherited disorders of bilirubin metabolism

41
* Phototherapy used in neonates with serum bilirubin \> 21
* Changes _ bilirubin into _ bilirubin
* Trans-bilirubin changes to water soluble cis-bilirubin isomer
42
* ***Cholelithiasis***
* Causes:
* Excess in pigment of bilirubin breakdown or cholesterol
* Too much absorption of water from bile
* Too much absorption of bile acids from bile
* Too much cholesterol in bile
* Inflammation of epithelium

43
* Where are most gallstones located?
* 75% are large gallstones that just stay in the gallbladder

44
* Elevated aminotransferases (ASTs) suggest \_
* Elevated alkaline phosphate suggests \_
* Hepatocyte injury
* Bile duct injury (Ex: Cholestasis)
45
* How are albumin levels alteres in cirrhosis or any severe impairment of hepatocyte function?
* What disease can also affect albumin levels?
* Lowered albumin levels with worsening cirrhosis and/or severe impairment of hepatocyte function
* Also lowered in kidney glomerular disease
46
* PT-what does it measure
* Reflects the degree of hepatic synthetic dysfunction
* Increases as the ability of a cirrhotic liver to synthesize clotting factors decreases
* Worsening coagulopathy results with severe hepatic dysfunction
47
* Overview of drug metabolism
* Phase 1
* Phase 2
* Liver can modify drugs to render them water-soluble
* Phase 1: Drugs processed via Cytocrome P450 enzymes
* Phase 2: Conjugation steps for further detoxification (glucouronide, sulfate, amino acids, glutathione)

48
* Phase 1 of drug metabolism
* **Reduction**
* **Oxidation**
* **Hydroxylation**
* **Hydrolysis**
* **GOAL: Make primary metabolite more polar**
49
* **Phase 2 of Drug Metabolism**
* **Conjugation**
* **Sulfation**
* **Methylation**
* **Clucouronidation**
* GOAL: Make secondary metabolite suitable for excretion
50
* Cytochrome P450 enzymes are are inducible by their \_
* What are responsible for drug metabolism?
* Substrate
* CTP1,CYP2,CYP3
51
* Reaction sequence of Cytochrome P450
Drug bound to ferric cytochrome p450
Reduced to ferrous form via NADPH **cytochrome P450 reductase**
Ferrous form hydroxylated
Releases drug
P450-Fe3+ (ferric) recycled
52
* ***Agents that _ CYP will cause increased drug levels in plasma (EX: Itraconozone,clarithromycin, cyclosporine, grapefruit and citrus juices increase statin levels in plasma)***
* ***Agents that _ CYP will decrease drug levels in plasma (EX: Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, St.John's Wort-Decrease statin levels)***
* Decrease CYP, Increase in plasma drug levels
* Increase CYP, Decrease in plasma drug levels
53
* What is a common feature of many diseases of the liver
* Impairment of free exchange of material between hepatocytes and blood