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Y1 - Gastrointestinal > Histology - Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder > Flashcards

Histology - Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder Flashcards

1
Q

List some of the functions of the liver

A
  • oxidise triglycerides
  • synthesise plasma proteins and lipoproteins
  • synthesize cholesterol
  • convert carbs and proteins into fatty acids and triglycerides
  • regulates blood glucose (glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis)
  • detox metabolic waste
  • detox drugs and toxins
  • store vitamins and iron
  • synthesise and secrete bile
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2
Q

What vessels are present in the portal triad?

A
  • hepatic portal vein
  • hepatic artery
  • bile duct (common hepatic duct combined with cystic bile duct)
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3
Q

describe the capsule that surrounds the liver

A 
Mesothelium (simple squamous epithelium)
-->
Collagenous connective tissue
-->
Liver parenchyma
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4
Q

Describe the lobules of the liver

A
  • Roughly hexagonal in shape
  • Centrilobular vein (terminal hepatic vein)
  • Portal triads
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5
Q

Describe the portal triads (portal tract) that surround the lobules of the liver

A

Composed of:

  • bile duct
  • portal vein
  • hepatic artery

and:

  • lymphatic vessel
  • branch of the vagus nerve

They are supported by collagenous connective tissue

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6
Q

Describe the flow deoxygenated blood through a liver lobule

A 
hepatic portal vein (branch) and hepatic artery
-->
hepatic sinusoids
-->
centrilobular vein
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7
Q

Are there distinct connective tissue septa between the liver lobules?

A

No, but the septa do exist

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8
Q

Describe the lining of a bile ductule

A

Lined by cholangiocytes

simple cuboidal epithelium

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9
Q

Describe hepatocytes

A

Epithelial cells

Produce primary bile

Have microvilli:

  • project into the perisinusoidal space
  • project into the bile canaliculi

Join to form plates of cells, leaving sinusoids between them

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10
Q

Describe a hepatic sinusoid

A

the space between the plates of hepatocytes

Lined by endothelial cells (as the hepatocytes plates have an endothelial lining)

Supplied by a mix of blood from the hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein

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11
Q

What is a hepatic acinus?

A

a functional subunit of the liver

an alternate functional rather than structural view (classic hepatic lobule)

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12
Q

Describe the lining of the plates of hepatocytes

A

The hepatocytes plates are lined by a fenestrated endothelium

They are separated by a thin gap called the the space of Disse (perisinusoidal space)

The microvilli of the hepatocytes project into the perisinusoidal space

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13
Q

Describe the perisinusoidal space (space of Disse)

A

gap between the hepatocytes and their endothelial lining

the hepatocytic microvilli project into it

Has hepatic stellate cells

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14
Q

Describe the significance of the fenestrated nature of the hepatocytic endothelium

A

The liquid component of the blood can reach the hepatocytes

But the blood cells can’t as they are too large to fit through the fenestrations

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15
Q

Describe hepatic stellate cells

A

Modified fibroblasts

Function:

  • make connective tissue
  • store vitamin A within fat droplets in their cytoplasms

found in the perisinusoidal space

(in cirrhosis they turn into myofibroblasts and produce scar tissue instead)

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16
Q

Describe Kupffer cells

A

Macrophages in the hepatic sinusoids

Function:

  • remove old red blood cells
  • remove particulates from the blood
17
Q

Describe bile

A

Alkaline solution

Contains:

  • water
  • ions
  • phospholipids
  • bilirubin
  • bile salts
18
Q

Describe bile production

A

Primary bile is produced by hepatocytes

This is then modified by cholangiocytes:
- bicarbonate ions added
- water added
-

19
Q

Describe cholangiocytes

A

Simple cuboidal epithelial cells

Lines the biliary tree

Modifies primary bile

20
Q

Describe the flow of bile through a hepatic lobule and out of the kidneys

A 
Bile produced in hepatocytes
-->
Flows in bile canaliculi
-->
bile ducts (portal triad)
-->
hepatic ducts
21
Q

Describe the bile canaliculi

A

Small channels between the membranes of adjacent hepatocytes (joined by tight junctions)

They collect the bile produced by the hepatocytes

The hepatocytes have microvilli that project into the canaliculi, and release the produced bile

22
Q

Describe the layers of the gallbladder

A 
lumen
-->
simple columnar epithelium with microvilli
-->
lamina propria (connective tissue, rich in vasculature)
-->
smooth muscle
-->
adventitis (collagenous)
23
Q

Describe the function of the gallbladder

A

Stores and modifies bile

Removes 80-90% of bile volume:

  • pumps Na and Cl- ions from the bile
  • water follows the ions
  • water is removed by lymphatics

Delivers bile to duodenum:

  • contracts to deliver bile
  • controlled by nervous (vagal), and hormonal (cholecystokinin) influences
24
Q

Describe the epithelium of the gallbladder

A

Tall simple columnar epithelium with microvilli

25
Q

Describe cholecystitis

A

Gallbladder inflammation

Gallstones obstruct cystic duct
-->
gallbladder pressure increases
-->
muscular wall hypertrophy and inflammation
26
Q

Is the pancreas mainly exocrine or endocrine?

A

Its function in 99% exocrine

27
Q

Describe the exocrine function of the pancreas

A

produces digestive juices containing:

  • proteases
  • lipases
  • nucleases
  • amylases
  • etc.

(^^ all in proenzyme form, are activated in the duodenum)

Juice feeds into the duodenum via the pancreatic duct

28
Q

Describe the endocrine pancreas

A

diffuse islands of tissue called islets of Langerhans

makes up 1-2% of the pancreas

29
Q

Describe the capsule of the pancreas

A

Thin connective tissue capsule

It is continuous with the septa that divide the pancreas into its lobules

30
Q

Describe the hepatopancreatic ampulla

A 
Main pancreatic duct
joins
Common bile duct
forming
Hepatopancreatic ampulla

It feeds into the duodenum

31
Q

Describe an pancreatic intercalated duct

A

The duct extends into the acinus

the duct cells in the acinus are called centroacinar cells

32
Q

Describe centroacinar cells

A

the duct cells of intercalated ducts that extend into the acinus

33
Q

Describe a pancreatic aninus

A

an acinus of secretory cells surrounding an intercalated duct

Y1 - Gastrointestinal (6 decks)

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