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ANKI cards > LIVER HISTOPHYSIOLOGY > Flashcards

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
Q

How are hepatocytes arranged?

A

They form one-cell-thick plates called hepatic laminae, which branch and connect, surrounded by venous sinusoids.

26
Q

What structures do hepatocytes contain?

A

They have cuboidal cell shape, bile canaliculi, and basolateral domains for absorption and protein secretion.

27
Q

What is the apical membrane in hepatocytes?

A

It faces the bile canaliculi, lined by microvilli, and is sealed by tight junctions to facilitate bile secretion.

28
Q

How is the basolateral domain of hepatocytes organized?

A

It faces the Space of Disse and includes abundant microvilli for absorption and plasma protein secretion.

29
Q

What is the function of the lateral aspect in hepatocyte basolateral domains?

A

It contains adherens and gap junctions for intercellular communication.

30
Q

How are bile canaliculi formed in hepatocytes?

A

Bile canaliculi are formed by the apical membranes of adjacent hepatocytes creating intercellular channels where bile is secreted.

31
Q

What is the significance of the apical membrane’s structure in hepatocytes?

A

The apical membrane is indented to form bile canaliculi, aiding in the liver’s exocrine function by transporting bile.

32
Q

Why are tight junctions important in hepatocyte polarity?

A

Tight junctions seal the apical region of hepatocytes, ensuring that bile does not leak into blood plasma, maintaining directional flow.

33
Q

What is the primary function of the basolateral domain in hepatocytes?

A

The basolateral domain absorbs blood-borne substances and secretes plasma proteins such as albumin and coagulation factors.

34
Q

Describe the structural elements found in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes.

A

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
Q

What type of proteins are produced by hepatocytes for blood plasma?

A

Hepatocytes synthesize proteins such as albumin, fibrinogen, and coagulation factors V, VII, and IX for plasma.

36
Q

What is the Space of Disse, and why is it significant?

A

The Space of Disse lies between hepatocytes and blood vessels, allowing exchange of nutrients and metabolites between blood and liver cells.

37
Q

What is the primary function of hepatic stellate cells in the Space of Disse?

A

Stellate cells store vitamin A and produce extracellular matrix (ECM); they can transform into myofibroblasts in response to liver injury.

38
Q

What type of fibers form the scaffold within the Space of Disse?

A

Reticular fibers (Type III collagen) form a supportive network within the Space of Disse.

39
Q

What is the role of hepatic stellate cells (Ito cells) in liver health?

A

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
Q

How do hepatic stellate cells contribute to liver fibrosis?

A

Upon liver damage, stellate cells produce Type I collagen, which can accumulate and cause fibrosis, altering liver architecture.

41
Q

Why is the hepatocyte nucleus pale and abundant in euchromatin?

A

The large, pale nucleus with abundant euchromatin indicates high transcriptional activity, necessary for synthesizing essential proteins and enzymes.

41
Q

What triggers hepatic stellate cells to change from a quiescent to an active state?

A

Injury or inflammation in the liver triggers stellate cells to differentiate into myofibroblasts, increasing ECM production.

42
Q

What is the function of mitochondria in hepatocytes?

A

Mitochondria provide ATP for cellular processes, including bile secretion and detoxification reactions in hepatocytes.

43
Q

How do the rough ER and Golgi apparatus support hepatocyte function?

A

They synthesize and glycosylate plasma proteins, playing crucial roles in protein processing and secretion.

44
Q

What is the function of the smooth ER in hepatocytes?

A

The smooth ER is involved in lipid synthesis, glycogen metabolism, and detoxification of lipid-soluble drugs.

45
Q

How does the smooth ER help in drug detoxification?

A

It processes and excretes lipid-soluble drugs through glucuronide conjugation, which aids in excreting drugs like phenobarbital.

46
Q

What metabolic process occurs in hepatocyte lysosomes?

A

Lysosomes degrade aged plasma glycoproteins and store iron, supporting the liver’s function in waste processing.

47
Q

How much bile do hepatocytes produce daily?

A

Hepatocytes produce 600-1200 ml of bile per day, which is critical for digestion and excretion.

48
Q

What are the primary components of bile?

A

Bile consists mostly of water, bile salts, bilirubin glucuronide, phospholipids, cholesterol, and electrolytes.

49
Q

What is the role of bile in the body?

A

Bile aids in fat absorption, transports immunoglobulin A (IgA) to the intestines, and helps excrete cholesterol and bilirubin.

50
Q

How is unconjugated bilirubin transported in the blood?

A

Unconjugated bilirubin binds to albumin, which prevents it from being excreted in urine due to its large size.

51
Q

What occurs to bilirubin within hepatocytes?

A

Bilirubin is conjugated with glucuronic acid, making it water-soluble, which allows it to be excreted in bile.

52
Q

What happens to conjugated bilirubin in the intestines?

A

Conjugated bilirubin is converted to urobilinogen, a form that can be excreted in feces, with some reabsorbed for urine excretion.

53
Q

What roles does the liver play in carbohydrate metabolism?

A

The liver stores glucose as glycogen and breaks down glycogen into glucose when blood sugar levels are low.

54
Q

How does the liver participate in protein metabolism?

A

It deaminates amino acids for energy and converts ammonia to urea for safe excretion.

55
Q

Which vitamins and minerals are stored in the liver?

A

The liver stores vitamins A, B12, D, E, and K, along with minerals like iron and copper.

56
Q

What is the liver’s role in detoxifying substances?

A

The liver detoxifies drugs and alcohol and alters or excretes thyroid and steroid hormones.

57
Q

How does the liver protect against pathogens from the intestines?

A

Kupffer cells in the liver phagocytose bacteria and debris, providing immune defense within the liver.

58
Q

What is the function of bile salts synthesized in the liver?

A

Bile salts aid in the emulsification and absorption of fats within the small intestine.

ANKI cards (10 decks)

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