Lecture 11: Liver

Question 1

What are the basic functions of the liver?

Answer 1

1. takes up nutrients
2. stores and releases
3. synthesizes
4. takes up and destroys (detoxification)
5. bile formation and secretion

Question 2

What digested nutrients does the liver ‘take up’?

Answer 2

1. carbs
2. amino acids
3. lipids
4. vitamins

Question 3

The liver is responsible for storing and releasing…?

Answer 3

1. glucose (from glycogen)
2. triglycerides (as lipoprotein VLDL)
3. vitamins

Question 4

What are some of the things that the liver takes up and destroys (detoxifies)?

Answer 4

1. metabolites
2. drugs
3. xenobiotics
4. bacteria
5. immunoglobulin complexes
6. “worn out” cells and proteins

Question 5

What are xenobiotics?

Answer 5

foreign materials that are usually ingested with food

Question 6

What are some of the other functions the liver is capable of doing outside of its basic functions?

Answer 6

1. It sequesters IgA and converts to bile
2. converts T4 to T3
3. Embryonic hematopoesis
4. Somatomedin production

Question 7

Define somatomedin

Answer 7

It is a group of hormones that is produced when stimulated by STH to promote cell growth and division

Question 8

Define Embryonic Hematopoesis

Answer 8

In the embryo, the liver can be a site for production RBC’s in the liver

Question 9

Define hepatocytes

Answer 9

epithelial cells that form the parenchyma of the liver

Question 10

Describe a liver cell

Answer 10

• polyhedral cells
• arranged in cords or plates
• central nucleus and nucleolus
• sometimes contains large quantities of glycogen and/or lipid
• has short microvilli

Question 11

Where are the short microvilli of the liver found?

Answer 11

they are found on the free surface that extends into the perisinusoidal space

Question 12

What is significant about the activity of the liver cells?

Answer 12

the activity of the liver cells