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LIVER HISTOPHYSIOLOGY Flashcards

1
Q

What are the main histological components of the liver?

A

The liver consists of the stroma and parenchyma, with the stroma including the capsule of Glisson and reticular fiber networks.

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2
Q

What is the role of the capsule of Glisson?

A

The capsule of Glisson surrounds the liver and extends as trabeculae, providing structural support.

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3
Q

Which organs contribute to the liver’s blood supply?

A

The liver receives blood from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and spleen.

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4
Q

What percentage of blood to the liver is nutrient-rich but deoxygenated?

A

About 75% of the blood is nutrient-rich and deoxygenated, delivered via the hepatic portal vein.

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5
Q

What role does the hepatic artery play in liver function?

A

The hepatic artery supplies the liver with oxygenated blood, comprising 25% of total liver blood flow.

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6
Q

What is the hepatic lobule?

A

It is the structural and functional unit of the liver, consisting of hepatocytes, sinusoids, bile canaliculi, and a central vein.

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7
Q

hat is located at the center of a hepatic lobule?

A

A central vein runs through the core of each hepatic lobule.

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8
Q

A central vein runs through the core of each hepatic lobule.

A

The portal triad, located at lobule edges, includes branches of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct to support lobule function.

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9
Q

What is the Space of Disse in the liver?

A

It is a space that separates hepatocytes from blood in the hepatic sinusoid, facilitating exchange between blood and liver cells.

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10
Q

What is the Space of Mall?

A

It is a lymphatic drainage space found within the portal space, adjacent to the portal triad.

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11
Q

What role does the limiting plate play?

A

It separates the portal triad from the hepatic lobule, serving as a boundary structure.

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12
Q

Describe hepatic sinusoids.

A

These are highly permeable capillaries that allow exchange between blood and hepatocytes, featuring fenestrations and a discontinuous membrane.

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13
Q

What cells are found within hepatic sinusoids?

A

Kupffer cells, a type of fixed macrophage, are located here to phagocytose debris and pathogens.

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14
Q

Where does blood flow after passing through hepatic sinusoids?

A

Blood flows into the central vein of the hepatic lobule, aiding circulation through the liver.

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15
Q

What are bile canaliculi?

A

These are channels between hepatocytes where bile is secreted and transported.

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16
Q

Describe the flow of bile in the liver.

A

Bile flows in the opposite direction to blood, moving from bile canaliculi to bile ducts within the portal space.

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17
Q

How does bile exit the liver?

A

Bile flows through right and left hepatic ducts, merging into the common hepatic duct, then entering the common bile duct.

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18
Q

What defines a classic hepatic lobule?

A

It is hexagonal, with hepatocytes radiating from a central vein and portal triads at each corner.

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19
Q

What direction does blood flow within the classic hepatic lobule?

A

Blood flows from the portal triad towards the central vein.

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20
Q

What structures are located at the corners of the hepatic lobule?

A

The portal triads, which include branches of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and bile duct.

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21
Q

What is the hepatic acinus?

A

It is a functional unit emphasizing arterial blood flow and metabolic gradients from the portal tract to the central vein.

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22
Q

What are the three zones of the hepatic acinus?

A

Zone I (peri-portal), Zone II (intermediate), and Zone III (peri-central), each with varying oxygen and nutrient levels.

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23
Q

What is the primary function of Zone I in the hepatic acinus?

A

Zone I is highly oxygenated and active in regeneration and metabolic processing.

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24
Q

What are hepatocytes?

A

These are the primary functional cells of the liver, making up 80% of liver volume and performing endocrine and exocrine functions.

25
How are hepatocytes arranged?
They form one-cell-thick plates called hepatic laminae, which branch and connect, surrounded by venous sinusoids.
26
What structures do hepatocytes contain?
They have cuboidal cell shape, bile canaliculi, and basolateral domains for absorption and protein secretion.
27
What is the apical membrane in hepatocytes?
It faces the bile canaliculi, lined by microvilli, and is sealed by tight junctions to facilitate bile secretion.
28
How is the basolateral domain of hepatocytes organized?
It faces the Space of Disse and includes abundant microvilli for absorption and plasma protein secretion.
29
What is the function of the lateral aspect in hepatocyte basolateral domains?
It contains adherens and gap junctions for intercellular communication.
30
How are bile canaliculi formed in hepatocytes?
Bile canaliculi are formed by the apical membranes of adjacent hepatocytes creating intercellular channels where bile is secreted.
31
What is the significance of the apical membrane's structure in hepatocytes?
The apical membrane is indented to form bile canaliculi, aiding in the liver's exocrine function by transporting bile.
32
Why are tight junctions important in hepatocyte polarity?
Tight junctions seal the apical region of hepatocytes, ensuring that bile does not leak into blood plasma, maintaining directional flow.
33
What is the primary function of the basolateral domain in hepatocytes?
The basolateral domain absorbs blood-borne substances and secretes plasma proteins such as albumin and coagulation factors.
34
Describe the structural elements found in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes.
The basolateral membrane has a basal aspect facing the Space of Disse with abundant microvilli, and a lateral aspect with adherens and gap junctions for cell communication.
35
What type of proteins are produced by hepatocytes for blood plasma?
Hepatocytes synthesize proteins such as albumin, fibrinogen, and coagulation factors V, VII, and IX for plasma.
36
What is the Space of Disse, and why is it significant?
The Space of Disse lies between hepatocytes and blood vessels, allowing exchange of nutrients and metabolites between blood and liver cells.
37
What is the primary function of hepatic stellate cells in the Space of Disse?
Stellate cells store vitamin A and produce extracellular matrix (ECM); they can transform into myofibroblasts in response to liver injury.
38
What type of fibers form the scaffold within the Space of Disse?
Reticular fibers (Type III collagen) form a supportive network within the Space of Disse.
39
What is the role of hepatic stellate cells (Ito cells) in liver health?
They store vitamin A and lipids in healthy liver tissue but can differentiate into collagen-producing myofibroblasts in response to injury, leading to fibrosis.
40
How do hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver fibrosis?
Upon liver damage, stellate cells produce Type I collagen, which can accumulate and cause fibrosis, altering liver architecture.
41
Why is the hepatocyte nucleus pale and abundant in euchromatin?
The large, pale nucleus with abundant euchromatin indicates high transcriptional activity, necessary for synthesizing essential proteins and enzymes.
41
What triggers hepatic stellate cells to change from a quiescent to an active state?
Injury or inflammation in the liver triggers stellate cells to differentiate into myofibroblasts, increasing ECM production.
42
What is the function of mitochondria in hepatocytes?
Mitochondria provide ATP for cellular processes, including bile secretion and detoxification reactions in hepatocytes.
43
How do the rough ER and Golgi apparatus support hepatocyte function?
They synthesize and glycosylate plasma proteins, playing crucial roles in protein processing and secretion.
44
What is the function of the smooth ER in hepatocytes?
The smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis, glycogen metabolism, and detoxification of lipid-soluble drugs.
45
How does the smooth ER help in drug detoxification?
It processes and excretes lipid-soluble drugs through glucuronide conjugation, which aids in excreting drugs like phenobarbital.
46
What metabolic process occurs in hepatocyte lysosomes?
Lysosomes degrade aged plasma glycoproteins and store iron, supporting the liver’s function in waste processing.
47
How much bile do hepatocytes produce daily?
Hepatocytes produce 600-1200 ml of bile per day, which is critical for digestion and excretion.
48
What are the primary components of bile?
Bile consists mostly of water, bile salts, bilirubin glucuronide, phospholipids, cholesterol, and electrolytes.
49
What is the role of bile in the body?
Bile aids in fat absorption, transports immunoglobulin A (IgA) to the intestines, and helps excrete cholesterol and bilirubin.
50
How is unconjugated bilirubin transported in the blood?
Unconjugated bilirubin binds to albumin, which prevents it from being excreted in urine due to its large size.
51
What occurs to bilirubin within hepatocytes?
Bilirubin is conjugated with glucuronic acid, making it water-soluble, which allows it to be excreted in bile.
52
What happens to conjugated bilirubin in the intestines?
Conjugated bilirubin is converted to urobilinogen, a form that can be excreted in feces, with some reabsorbed for urine excretion.
53
What roles does the liver play in carbohydrate metabolism?
The liver stores glucose as glycogen and breaks down glycogen into glucose when blood sugar levels are low.
54
How does the liver participate in protein metabolism?
It deaminates amino acids for energy and converts ammonia to urea for safe excretion.
55
Which vitamins and minerals are stored in the liver?
The liver stores vitamins A, B12, D, E, and K, along with minerals like iron and copper.
56
What is the liver's role in detoxifying substances?
The liver detoxifies drugs and alcohol and alters or excretes thyroid and steroid hormones.
57
How does the liver protect against pathogens from the intestines?
Kupffer cells in the liver phagocytose bacteria and debris, providing immune defense within the liver.
58
What is the function of bile salts synthesized in the liver?
Bile salts aid in the emulsification and absorption of fats within the small intestine.

ANKI cards (10 decks)

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