Liver Flashcards
Where is the liver located in the body?
Right upper quadrant of the abdomen.
- beneath the diaphragm.
Which vein/artery does the liver receive its blood?
- Hepatic portal vein.
- Hepatic artery.
How much blood flow does the liver receive from each of its sources?
- Hepatic portal vein = 70-75% blood supply.
- Hepatic artery = 25-30% blood supply.
What are the 4 functions of the liver?
1) . Regulation, synthesis and secretion.
2) . Storage.
3) . Purification, transformation and clearance.
4) . Fighting infections.
How does storage of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?
- Iron.
- Fat soluble vitamins.
- Glycogen.
How does regulation, synthesis and secretion of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?
- Makes plasma proteins.
- Makes clotting factors.
- Produces cholesterol.
- Controls levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood.
- Manufacturing bile.
How does purification, transformation and clearance of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?
- Breaks down aged red blood cells.
- Processing hormones.
- Processing digested food from the intestine.
- Neutralising and destroyed drugs and toxins.
How does the liver fighting infections contribute to homeostasis and health?
Specialised macrophages in the liver (Kupffer cells) destroy any bacteria that they come into contact with.
What are the 3 roles the liver plays in metabolism?
1) . Carbohydrate metabolism.
2) . Protein metabolism.
3) . Fat metabolism.
How does the liver metabolise carbohydrates?
1) . Glycogenesis.
2) . Glycogenolysis.
3) . Gluconeogenesis.
What is glycogenesis?
Liver stores excess glucose in the form of glycogen.
What is glycogenolysis?
Glycogen is broken down to release glucose.
What is gluconeogenesis?
New glucose is formed from protein and glycerol (fat).
How does the liver metabolise protein?
1) . Deamination and urea formation.
2) . Transamination =
- amino acids converted into more important amino acids.
3) . Protein formation.
How is urea eliminated?
- Liver breaks down amino acids in protein to ammonia, CO2, water and energy.
- Ammonia is toxic to cells.
- Liver converts ammonia to urea.
- Urea transported in the blood to the kidneys.
- Urea eliminated in urine.
How is the liver divided?
Into liver lobules =
- cylindrical shaped.
What is a liver lobule?
- Each filled with millions of liver cells.
- Carry out the metabolic functions of the liver.
What types of tissue surrounds each liver lobule?
Connective tissue.
What is the in centre of the lobule?
Central vein.
What are liver cells called?
Hepatocytes.
What are sinusoids?
- Formed inbetween the cords of hepatocytes in liver lobules.
- Thin-walled blood vessels lined with epithelial cells and Kupffer cells (macrophages).
- Remove aged red blood cells, bacteria and debris from the blood.
What are stellate cells in the liver?
Cells involved in fibrosis and the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage.
