Liver and Gallbladder Physiology and Pathology (Week 12) Flashcards
approximate weight of the liver
1.2-1.5kg
(~ 2-5% of adult body weight)
What role does the liver play in the circulatory system?
receives portal blood that drains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, and spleen
What role does the liver play in the immune system?
Kupffer cells of the liver represent up to 80% of the mononuclear phagocyte system
How many lobes does the liver have?
4
(right, left, quadrate, caudate)
The quadrate lobe is located ___________ (inferiorly/superiorly)
inferiorly
The caudate lobe is located _____________ (anteriorly/posteriorly)
posteriorly
Note: this lobe is non-palpable
___________ ligaments anchors the liver to the diaphragm
Coronary
_____________ ligament separates right and left lobe
Falciform
___________ ligament (aka “ligamentum teres”) separates quadrate and left lobe, connects the liver to the umbilicus, and is a remnant of the left umbilical vein
Round
Note: found on the free border of the falciform ligament
____________ separates the caudate lobe and left lobe, and is a remnant of the ductus venosus
Ligamentum venosum
The __________ separates the quadrate lobe and right lobe
Hint: not a ligament
gallbladder
The liver receives OXYGENATED blood from the __________
hepatic artery
The liver receives DEOXYGENATED, [extra] nutrient-rich blood from the ___________
hepatic portal vein
The porta hepatis is an opening that allows for what three things to enter the liver?
1) hepatic artery
2) portal vein
3) common hepatic duct (bile passage)
__________ are also known as liver cells
hepatocytes
Note: these are the major functional cells of the liver; they are specialized epithelial cells and make up 80% of the volume of the liver
Hepatocytes are arranged into ____________ (plates of hepatocytes bordered by hepatic sinusoids), which are highly branched structures
hepatic laminae
Hepatocytes are arranged into lobules, whereby the lobules surround a __________ that drains hepatic sinusoids and empties into the hepatic vein, and whereby the lobules are cornered by portal triads
central vein
What is a portal triad composed of?
1) bile duct
2) portal arteriole (branch of hepatic artery)
3) portal venule (branch of portal vein)
What is found between hepatocytes?
- bile canaliculi
- cholangiocytes
small ducts found between hepatic laminae that collect bile
bile canaliculi
___________ line bile ductules and ducts
Cholangiocytes
capillary system specific to the liver
hepatic sinusoids
Hepatocytes are separated from sinusoids by the ___________
space of Disse
True or False: Hepatic sinusoids are an area where blood from the portal vein and hepatic artery mix
True
They converge and drain into the central vein
What type of cell is found in the space of Disse?
hepatic stellate cell (aka “Ito” cell)
major cell type involved in liver fibrosis, becomes active when there is damage, secretes collagen and extracellular matrix in response to damage leading to scar tissue formation
hepatic stellate cell (“Ito” cell)
Why are hepatic stellate cells also categorized as lipocytes (fat cells)?
they can store lipid droplets in their cell body containing vitamin A retinol esters
resident macrophage of the liver
Kupffer cell
Note: These are derived from circulating monocytes
What is the function of Kupffer cells?
phagocytose old RBCs, hemoglobin, particulate matter, cellular debris, and microorganisms
Hepatocytes, the bile duct system, and hepatic sinusoids can be organized into functional units called ___________
hepatic acinus
approximately oval shaped mass that includes portions of 2 neighbouring hepatic lobules (the overlapping space between the two lobules = oval); has a short axis and long axis
hepatic acinus
There are 3 zones around the short axis of a hepatic acinus. What are they? Which is the most oxygenated? Which is the least oxygenated?
Zone 1 (MOST oxygenated; closer to short axis)
Zone 2
Zone 3 (LEAST oxygenated; furthest from short axis
True or False: Hepatocyte function differs based on zone within hepatic acinus
True
Periportal hepatocytes in zone 1 specialize in _____________
oxidative metabolism
Pericentral hepatocytes in zone 3 specialize in ________________
biotransformation of drugs