Liver Function Flashcards
What metabolic functions does the liver carry out?
- Control of blood glucose levels, amino acid levels, lipid levels
- Synthesis of bile, plasma proteins, cholesterol
- Synthesis of red blood cells in fetus
- Storage of vitamins A,D and B12, iron, glycogen
- Detoxification of alcohol, drugs
- Breakdown of hormones
- Destruction of red blood cells
Why are fetal red blood cells made in the fetus liver and not in the bones?
Because the fetus does not have enough density in its bones
Hepatocyte
Liver cell
Glycogenesis
Making glycogen from glucose
Glycogenolysis
Breaking down glycogen to glucose
Gluconeogenesis
Glucose newly made from amino acids
Glycolysis
Breaking down glucose to form pycurate
How does the liver store sugars?
In the form of glycogen
Approx. how much glycogen can the liver store?
100-120g -8% of the fresh weight of liver
Where does glycogen form granules?
In the cytoplasm of hepatocytes
What chemicals produced in the body may be toxic?
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Ammonia
How can toxins be rendered harmless?
- Oxidation
- Reduction
- Methylation
- Combination with another molecule
What enzymes in the liver cells render toxic molecules less toxic?
- Catalase
- Cytochrome P450
Catalyse
- Enzyme which coverts hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water
- Has a particularly high turnover number of 5 million
Turnover number
The number of molecules of hydrogen peroxide that one molecule of catalyse can render harmless in one second
