Liver Flashcards
functions of the liver
• Process nutrients in blood
glucose glycogen
• Makes blood proteins
• Stores fat-soluble vitamins
• Detoxifies poisons and drugs
• Produces bile = Cholesterol, bile salts, bilirubin
- Excrete bilirubin (from broken-down red blood cells)
- Emulsify fat and improves fat digestion
gross anatomy of the liver
• Vessels connect on visceral (posterior) side
• Hepatic veins = carry blood away, back to heart
• Porta hepatis
= region where other vessels connect to liver
vessels at the porta hepatis
• Common hepatic duct - carries bile • Hepatic arteries - blood with oxygen • Hepatic portal vein = unique!
what enters hepatic portal vein directly?
Absorbed carbohydrates & amino acids
Liver lobules
functional units = Hexagonal unit with plates of liver cells (hepatocytes)
each liver lobule contains
• Central vein
- Delivers blood to hepatic veins
• Portal triad
= Group of 3 vessels
the portal triad contains
• Portal arteriole = branch of hepatic artery Function?
• Portal venule = branch Fig.
of hepatic portal vein
Brings nutrients from digestive system for storage & processing
• Bile duct Function?
how does blood get to the central vein?
• Liver sinusoids = leaky capillaries - Fluid flows onto hepatocytes
…by way of fenestrations (holes)
- Also contains hepatic macrophages (Kupffer cells)
How does bile get to bile duct?
• Bile canaliculi
Jaundice
yellowing of skin & mucosae
- due to excess bilirubin throughout body tissues
- due to liver failure - e.g. due to hepatitis = inflammation of liver
Pathway of blood flow through the liver
x
hepatocyte
“liver cell”
what layer covers the liver?
viseral peritonium, except the ‘bare area’ which is superitor and is fused to the diaphragm and is devoid of a peritoneum
describe the pathway of bile flow in accumulation between meals.
liver-bile ducts-common hepatic duct-common bile duct-cystic duct- gallbladder
what is the function of bile?
to breakdown fats.
what is the pathway of stored bile from the gallbladder?
gallbladder- cystic duct- common bile duct- duodenum.
What are the functions of the pancreas?
both endocrine and exocrine secretions.
endocrine function secretes insulin (from beta cells, when blood sugar is to low) and glucagon (from alpha cells, when blood sugar is to high) (into the blood)
exocrine function secretes most of the digestive enzymes and bicarbonate in the dueodenum.
where do the vessels connect to the liver?
on the viseral (posterior) side
