Liver Structure & Function

Question 1

Largest organ in body is

Answer 1

Liver (1.4kg/3lb)

Question 2

Location of liver

Answer 2

upper right quadrant of abdomen (tucked against inferior surface of diaphragm)

Question 3

Liver has 2 major lobes

Answer 3

Right > Left

Question 4

2 Minor lobes

Answer 4

Caudate, Quadrate

Question 5

Left & right lobe separated by

Answer 5

Falciform ligament

Question 6

Caudate lobe location

Answer 6

sits posteriorly & above quadrate lobe

Question 7

Top area of liver is

Answer 7

bare

Question 8

other areas of liver covered by

Answer 8

connective tissue capsule & visceral peritoneum

Question 9

Septa divide liver into

Answer 9

hexagonal lobules

Question 10

Portal triad:

Answer 10

hepatic portal vein
hepatic artery
hepatic duct
(located at each corner of hexagonal lobule)

Question 11

Hepatic cords radiate out from

Answer 11

central veins

Question 12

Hepatic cords composed of

Answer 12

hepatocytes (functional cells of liver)

Question 13

Spaces between hepatic cords =

Answer 13

hepatic sinusoids (blood channels)

Question 14

Spaces between hepatic cords =

Answer 14

hepatic sinusoids (blood channels)

Question 15

Hepatic portal vein & hepatic artery bring blood into hepatic sinuisoid and drain into

Answer 15

central vein

Question 16

Bile canaliculus bring bile out of lobule and into

Answer 16

bile duct

Question 17

Hepatocyte take nutrients from

Answer 17

hepatic portal vein

Question 18

Hepatocytes functions:

Answer 18

Acts as nutrient storage and interconversion (glucose to amino acids)
Detoxifies blood

Question 19

Alimentary role of liver:

Answer 19

production & secretion of bile

Question 20

6 components of bile:

Answer 20

1. Bile acids (soluble fats)
2. Lecithin (soluble fats)
3. Cholesterol (soluble fats)
4. Bile pigment (bilirubin, from haemoglobin)
5. Toxic metals (are detoxified in liver)
6. Bicarbonates (acid neutralising)

Question 21

What are bile pigments?

Answer 21

Breakdown products of haemoglobin from old/damaged erythrocytes

Question 22

Predominant bile pigment =

Answer 22

Bilirubin

Question 23

Bilirubin colour

Answer 23

yellow bile

Question 24

When Bilirubin modified by bacterial enzymes (what colour?)

Answer 24

brown faeces

Question 25

Some bilirubin reabsorbed and excreted in urine (what colour?)

Answer 25

yellow urine

Question 26

Bile acids are made from

Answer 26

cholesterol in liver

Question 27

Before secretion, bile acids conjugated with

Answer 27

glycine or taurine to form bile salts

Question 28

Secreted bile salts recycled via

Answer 28

enterohepatic circulation

Question 29

Most bile acids reabsorbed in

Answer 29

distal ileum

Question 30

Describe the Gall bladder

Answer 30

Sac structure below liver

Secretes into cystic duct which connects into bile duct

Question 31

Gall bladder has 3 layers:

Answer 31

1. Mucosa (folded, but straightens with bile enters)
2. Muscularis (smooth muscle)
3. Serosa (connective tissue)

Question 32

How is bile secretion controlled?

Answer 32

• Sphincter of Oddi

- CCK

Question 33

Function of Sphincter of Oddi

Answer 33

• Controls release of bile & pancreatic juice into duodenum

- When closed, bile goes into gall bladder

Question 34

secretion stimulates what release?

Answer 34

HCO3

Question 35

CCK causes relaxation of

Answer 35

sphincter of oddi & gall bladder contraction