Liver

Question 1

What are 3 functions of the liver

Answer 1

1) deamination of excess AA
2) carb metabolism
3) detoxification

Question 2

Describe how deamination works

Answer 2

1) removes amine group from an amino acid
2) this forms ammonia which turns into urea in the ornthine cycle so it can be removed as nitrogenous waste
3) excess AA is used for respiration

Question 3

Describe carbohydrate metabolism

Answer 3

1) when the blood glucose levels are too low, hepatocytes break down glycogen into glucose
2) when blood glucose levels are too high, hepatocytes convert glucose into glycogen for storage

Question 4

Describe how detoxification works

Answer 4

1) drugs and alcohol are purified and made harmless here
2) for example hepatocytes contain catalase, breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and o2
3) catalase breaks down ethanol into ethanal and ethanoate used as storage by alcohol dehydrogenase.

Question 6

Structure of the liver

Answer 6

1) hepatic artery - carries oxygenated blood to the liver
2)hepatic vein- carries oxygenated blood away from liver to the heart
2) hepatic portal vein- carries blood with nutrients from intestines to liver
4) hepatocytes - liver cells

Question 7

How is bile produced

Answer 7

1) hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein mix blood in gaps called sinusoids
2) mixing increased o2 content- supplies cells with enough o2
3) sinusoids contain kipper cells which prevent ingesting foreign particles and disease
4) hepatocytes then secrete the bile into spaces called canaliculi
5) then drained into bile ductile into gall bladder