Liver function

Question 1

what are the metabolic functions of the liver?

Answer 1

> control of blood glucose levels
synthesis of bile, plasma proteins and cholesterol
synthesis of red blood cells in the fetus
storage of vitamins
detoxification of alcohol
breakdown of hormones
destruction of red blood cells

Question 2

Storage of glycogen

Answer 2

> stores sugars in the form of glycogen
forms granules in the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes
can be broken down into glucose

Question 3

Detoxification enzymes

Answer 3

Catalase
> converts hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water

cytochrome p450
> break down drugs such as cocaine and medicinal drugs
> used in the ETC aswell

Question 4

Detoxification of alcohol

Answer 4

> broken down in hepatocytes by ethanol dehydrogenase making ethanal
further dehydrogenated to form ethanoic acid which is combined with COA to form aceytl COA which enters aerobic respiration
hydrogen atoms released from alcohol are combined with NAD to form reduced NAD
NAD is required to break down fatty acids
if there is too much alcohol in the liver fatty acids are converted as fat in the hepatocytes
liver becomes enlarged and fatty liver is contracted

Question 5

formation of urea

Answer 5

> deammination –> ammonia keto –> urea

Question 6

orthanine cycle

Answer 6

> ammonia can become toxic so needs to be detoxified

> combines with co2