Liver

Question 1

Liver

Answer 1

Vital, complex organ
Stores and filters blood (reservoir)
Metabolizes carbs, fats, proteins
Synthesizes clotting factors, stores vitamins and iron
Plays a major role in metabolism of fat soluble drugs and detoxing body from lots of other substances

Question 2

Blood Clotting Factors

Answer 2

Formation of most blood clotting factors takes place in liver (prothrombin)
Synthesis of vitamin K by the intestines in needed for normal formation of clotting factors
The liver also produces fibrinogen which is needed for clot formation

Question 3

Important Hepatic Enzymes

Answer 3

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT)
Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
These enzymes may leak out into the blood with damage to the liver, there is a normal level in the blood every day, but an excess can reveal acute or chronic damage to the liver
Liver Function Test: ALT, AST, ALP, Bili

Question 4

Bilirubin

Answer 4

End product of hgb breakdown which occurs in the liver
Fat soluble (unconjugated) (indirect)
Water soluble (conjugated) (direct) 🡪 transported as bile to the intestines where it is excreted in the feces

Question 5

Liver Failure Causes

Answer 5

Acetaminophen overdose
Cirrhosis
Acute and chronic hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis
Herbal supplements (kava, ephedra, skullcap and pennyroyal)
Toxic mushrooms
Epstein Barr, cytomegalo and herpe simplex virus
Hepatocellular carcinoma