Liver Anatomy & Physiology

Question 1

Blood enters the liver through 2 different vessels. What are these 2 vessels called? & which one carries oxygen rich blood and which one carries nutrient rich blood?

Answer 1

Blood enters the liver through:
a) Hepatic Artery (aorta to liver) carrying oxygen rich blood
b) Hepatic Portal Vein (abdo organs to liver) carrying nutrient rich blood

Question 2

What is the vessel that takes blood away from the liver?

Answer 2

The Hepatic Vein takes blood away from the liver. It takes blood from the liver, through the hepatic vein, to the inferior vena cava, and then to the heart

Question 3

What are the 4 key functions of the liver?

Answer 3

Key functions of the liver:
#1- Metabolism (of Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins)
#2- Blood processes (makes clotting factors, cleanses blood)
#3- Breakdown (of toxins, drugs)
#4- Storage (of glucose, vitamins, iron)

Question 4

One of the key functions of the liver is to synthesise/make clotting factors. What vitamin does the liver use to do this?

Answer 4

The liver uses Vitamin K to make clotting factors. Therefore, vitamin k deficiency means pts often have a tendency to bleed lots

Question 5

After the liver metabolises/breaks down toxins/drugs, what does it do with them?

Answer 5

Following drug/toxin breakdown into water soluble molecules, the liver sends them to the kidneys to be excreted as urine

Question 6

One of the key functions of the liver is to cleanse the blood. The liver does this using a special type of cell called ___ cells.

Answer 6

The liver cleanses the blood through KUPFFER Cells. Kupffer cells are a type of macrophage

Question 7

What does an ‘exocrine function’ mean? and what is the exocrine function of the Liver?

Answer 7

Exocrine function= secretion of products into an organ (endocrine means secretion of products directly into the blood stream)
Exocrine function of the liver= Production of bile, and secretion of (via to bile ducts) to the gallbladder and then into the duodenum