Liver Flashcards
hepatocytes
- mjr functional cells of the liver that perform metabolic, secretory, and endocrine functions
Kupffer cells
- make up 80-90% of bodys macrophages
- line the sinusoids
- produce cytokines
- remove toxins and drugs
- destroy worn RBC and WBCs
what does the liver do : 8
- carb metabolism
- protein metabolism
- synthesis of clotting factors
- lipid metabolism
- bile production
- filtration of old RBCs
- storage of vitamins and minerals
- detox, bacteria removal, and cell cleanup
glycogenisis
genisis- making glucose
converts glucose to glycogen for storage
glycogenolysis
lysis- breaking (convert)
convert stored glycogen back into glucose for use in the body
gluconeogenisis
neogenisis- convert one thing into another
if no glucose is avail and glycogen stores are used up, the liver can convert non-carb things like amino acids into energy
protein metabolism and synthesis for clotting factors
AA uses old RBCs to form ammonia, then converts it to urea for excretion
- converts some AA’s to glucose or lipids
- plasma protein formation
albumin, globulins (immune) - synthesis for clotting factors
how do we treat a PT with decreased clotting factors
FFP and platelets
**Total Bili
unconjugated bilirubin
conjugated bilirubin
- total = conj and unconj circulating in blood
- uncoj is a waste product of Hgb breakdown (kuppfer cells) that is lipid soluble, then carried by albumin to the liver where hepatcytes conjugated it and make it water soluble and send it to the gall bladder to dispose in the digestive tract
- unconj high = impaired liver function or increased RBC breakdown
- Conj high = functioning liver but blocked hepatic ducts
liver storage
vit A, D, E, K, B12
iron copper
sinusoids can hold blood to be shunted in to circulation when needed
detox
kupffer cells remove drugs, toxin, lactate clearance
convert ammonia to water-sol urea excreted in kidneys (ammonia created in gut)
- lactulose binds to ammonia
effects of the liver
- decreased LOC
- bleeding
- edema, ascites, leaking wounds
- jaundice
- infection (not able to detox/bacteria)
AST
aspartate aminotransferase- liver, heart, skeletal muscles
- low specificity for the liver
ALT
Alanine Aminotransferase
- Most ALT elevations are caused by liver damage
- produced primarily in the liver
- high specificity for the liver
AST and ALT
both will go up in recent injury but must be correlated with PT hx/condition
- decreasing AST/ALT might not mean that the liver is getting better. It could be that it is worse and progressed to the point where there is few working hepatocytes