Liver and metabolism Flashcards
What is metabolism?
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body
What are the types of metabolism?
Catabolism is the breakdown of molecules.
Anabolism is the synthesis of molecules.
What is the composition of the liver?
Liver is composed of different lobes. Each lobes consist of hexagonal liver lobules, made up of hepatocytes. The portral triads enter the liver and the hepatic artery delivers oxygenated blood for o2 uptake and the hepatic portal vein delivers nutrient rich blood for metabolism. They mix in sinusoidal capillaries and are deposited into the central vein to be distriubted in the liver. The sinusoidal endothelial cells line the sinusoidal capillaries and act as a barrier between the tissue and the capillaries.
What is the function of the liver?
The liver is responsible for the storage of Vitamin A, D, E and B12. It stores copper ions and iron ions. The liver metabolises carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. It synthesises coagulation factors, plasma proteins and protease inhibitors.
What are stennate cells?
Stennate cells are fibroblasts which respond to inflammatory mediators to produce connective tissue.
What are Kuppfer cells?
Liver macrophages for pathogen defence and breakdown old RBCs.
How is the liver vascularised?
Unlike other organs, the liver is not vascularised by a capillary bed. The sinusoidal capillaries carry out microcirculation. Sources of blood supply to the liver is the hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein. The liver is drained via the hepatic vein.
What are the regions of the liver?
What is the space of Disse?
The peri endothelial space between hepatocytes and the outer endothelium of sinusoid capillaries.
What are the regions of the liver?
Liver consists of a perivenal region which receives blood from the hepatic artery and portal vein and a pericentral region.
What is highest in the periportal region?
Glycogen metabolism, ketogenesis, glucose uptake and bile acid synthesis.
What is highest in the perivenal region?
Gluconeogenesis, oxygen uptake, fatty acid oxidation and glucose delivery, urea synthesis.
What compounds does the liver detoxify and how?
The liver detoxifies toxic compounds like pesticides, pollutants, food additives, metabolic end products, drugs and alcohol. This is via metabolism.
