Liver Structure and Function

Question 1

Where is the liver located?

Answer 1

In upper right quadrant of abdomen

Question 2

Describe anatomy of the liver

Answer 2

Right lobe is bigger than left
Has 2 minor lobes - caudate and quadrate
Porta on inferior surface with entry/exit vessels

Question 3

Which vessels enter/exit the porta of the liver?

Answer 3

Hepatic portal vein
Hepatic artery
Lymphatic vessels
Right and left hepatic ducts into common hepatic duct
Hepatic nerve plexus

Question 4

What does the common hepatic duct join with?

Answer 4

Cystic duct from gallbladder

Question 5

What ducts make up the Sphincter of Oddi?

Answer 5

Common bile duct and pancreatic duct

Question 6

Describe the bare area of the liver

Answer 6

Liver is covered by connective tissue capsule and visceral peritoneum except for here - surrounded by coronary ligament

Question 7

Describe the septa of the liver

Answer 7

At porta - branching network into body of liver to provide support
Septa divide the liver into hexagonal lobules

Question 8

What follows septa throughout liver?

Answer 8

Vessels, ducts and nerves

Question 9

What is included in the portal triad?

Answer 9

Hepatic portal vein
Hepatic artery
Hepatic duct

Question 10

Where is the portal triad located?

Answer 10

At each corner of the hexagonal lobule

Question 11

What is at the centre of each hexagonal lobule?

Answer 11

Central veins at centre which drain to hepatic veins then IVC

Question 12

What are hepatic cords?

Answer 12

Radiate out from central veins
Composed of hepatocytes which are the functional cells of the liver

Question 13

What lies between each hepatic cord?

Answer 13

Canaliculus

Question 14

What are hepatic sinusoids?

Answer 14

Spaces between the hepatic cords which are blood channels

Question 15

Describe the journey of blood after going through the alimentary canal

Answer 15

Hepatic portal vein
Then to portal triad to hepatic sinusoids
Then to central veins
Then to hepatic veins

Question 16

What is the blood like after leaving the alimentary canal?

Answer 16

O2 depleted
Nutrient rich blood

Question 17

Describe the journey of the livers blood supply

Answer 17

Hepatic artery
Then hepatic sinusoids
Then central veins
Then hepatic veins

Question 18

What is the blood for the livers blood supply described as?

Answer 18

O2 rich as hasn’t been through gut
Nutrient depleted blood

Question 19

Describe the journey of bile in the liver

Answer 19

Hepatic sinusoids
Hepatocytes which synthesis bile
Then canaliculi
Hepatic ducts

Question 20

What are some other functions of hepatocytes in the liver?

Answer 20

Bile synthesis
Nutrient storage - glycogen, fat, vits, Cu and Fe
Nutrient interconversion
Detoxification - adds protein

Question 21

What is the alimentary role of the liver?

Answer 21

Production and secretion of bile

Question 22

What are the 6 components of bile?

Answer 22

Bile acids
Lecithin
Cholesterol
Bile pigments
Toxic metals
Bicarbonate

Question 23

Describe lecithin

Answer 23

Synthesised in the liver
Solubilises fat

Question 24

What is the function of bicarbonate?

Answer 24

Neutraliser of acid chyme

Question 25

What is secreted from hepatocytes?

Answer 25

Bile acids, lecithin, cholesterol, bile pigments and toxic metals

Question 26

Where is bicarbonate secreted from?

Answer 26

Duct cells

Question 27

What are bile pigments?

Answer 27

Breakdown products of haemoglobin form old/ damaged erythrocytes

Question 28

What creates yellow bile?

Answer 28

Bilirubin extracted from blood by hepatocytes and secreted into bile

Question 29

What makes faeces brown?

Answer 29

Bilirubin modified by bacterial enzymes to give brown pigment

Question 30

What makes urine yellow?

Answer 30

Reabsorbed bilirubin excreted in the urine

Question 31

How are bile acids synthesised?

Answer 31

In liver from cholesterol

Question 32

How does bile acids become bile salts?

Answer 32

Before secretion bile acids are conjugated with glycine or taurine - increased solubility

Question 33

How are bile salts recycled?

Answer 33

Enterohepatic circulation Liver - bile duct - duodenum - ileum - hepatic portal vein - liver

Question 34

What are the 3 wall layers of the gallbladder?

Answer 34

Mucosa - folded rugae Muscularis - smooth muscle Serosa - CT

Question 35

What is the journey of bile out gallbladder?

Answer 35

Gallbladder - cystic duct - common bile duct

Question 36

What is the function of the Sphincter of Oddi?

Answer 36

Controls release of bile and pancreatic juice into duodenum If contracted then bile forced back into gallbladder

Question 37

How much does the gallbladder concentrate bile?

Answer 37

5-20 times as absorbs Na and water

Question 38

What causes the release of CCK?

Answer 38

Fat in the duodenum

Question 39

What does CCK do once released?

Answer 39

Relaxes the sphincter of Oddi Gallbladder contracts to release bile - fat solubilisation Pancreatic enzyme secretion

Question 40

Describe the function of secretin in the alimentary system

Answer 40

When acid is in duodenum - releases secretin from S cell Causes decreased gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying Increases duodenal and pancreatic bicarbonate causing neutralisation