Metabolism 2 Wk1+2 Flashcards
explain what a hernia is and what type of hernia accounts fro 75% of abdominal hernias
a hernia is a protrusion of peritoneum and viscera such as small intestine through an opening or weakness.
Inguinal hernia’s account for 75% of abdominal hernias
they are usually harmless BUT carry risk of having their blood supply cut off= can become a medical + surgical emergency
what is the sensory and motor function of the genitofemoral nerve
provides sensory innervation to the upper anterior thigh, as well as the skin of the anterior scrotum in males and mons pubis in females. It also provides motor innervation to the cremaster muscle (via its genital branch)
what is a direct hernia
- acquired
*males over 40 highest risk factor
*hernia passes directly through abdominal wall (hesselbach’s triangle)
*rarely enters scrotum
*medial to inferior epigastric vessels
what is a indirect hernia
- usually congenital (patent process vaginalis)
- transverses canal with processus vaginalis
*commonly enters scrotun - lateral to inferior epigastric vessels
what artery supplies each of the following parts of the gut:
* foregut
* midgut
* hindgut
then explain the venous drainage of each too
foregut= supplied by coeliac trunk
foregut= drained by splenic vein
midgut= supplied by superior mesenteric artery
midgut= drained by superior mesenteric vein
hindgut= supplied by inferior mesenteric artery
hindgut= drained by inferior mesenteric vein
n.b. all the veins here drain into the hepatic portal vein which travels up to supply liver
If a gallstone blocks bile leaving the gall bladder when the gall bladder contracts, patient will have upper right quadrant pain (aka bilary colic). Overtime, this recurrence can cause cholechystisis. Explain what cholechystitis is and what the medical exam used to test for it is
Cholechystitis= inflammation of gallbladder due to bile flow obstruction
Murphy’s sign is elicited in patients with acute cholecystitis by asking the patient to take in and hold a deep breath while palpating the right subcostal area. If pain occurs on inspiration, when the inflamed gallbladder comes into contact with the examiner’s hand, Murphy’s sign is positive
what is steatosis and its causes
steatosis= accumulation of circular fat droplets within the hepatocytic cytoplasm
causes of steatosis:
alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (obesity, type 2 diabetes), drugs, viral hepatitis (hep C)
what is lipofuscin
Lipofuscin is an intralysosomal, polymeric substance, primarily composed of cross-linked protein residues, formed due to iron-catalyzed oxidative processes
The accumulation of lipofuscin within postmitotic cells is a recognized hallmark of aging occurring with a rate inversely related to longevity.
Lipofuscin is a yellow-brown pigment that builds up in cells as a byproduct of normal cellular metabolism. It’s sometimes called “wear-and-tear” or “age pigment” because it accumulates over time, especially in long-lived cells that don’t divide much, like liver cells, neurons, and heart muscle cells.
In the liver, lipofuscin collects within the liver cells (hepatocytes) as the body breaks down fats, proteins, and other molecules. Since it’s made of waste products that cells can’t easily get rid of, lipofuscin can’t be broken down and removed as efficiently as other cellular debris. Over time, it builds up in cells, occupying space and potentially affecting cell function by interfering with cellular metabolism and signaling.
As we age, the amount of lipofuscin in the liver (and other organs) increases because cells have more time to accumulate this waste material, and our bodies become less efficient at removing it.
define cholestasis
cholestasis= condition characterising systemic retention of bilirubin + other solutes eliminated in bile
Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Explain how the hepatocytes secrete bile
hepatocytes secrete bile into canaliculi
the canaliculi are defined by tight junctions between adjacent heaptocytes
bile flows through these narrow tubes towards the hepatic (bile) duct
from the bile duct it flow into the biliary tree out of the liver to the gallbladder or intestines
what is an INR blood test
INR= international normalised ratio (marker of how long it takes for your blood to clot–if its high/ prolonged it means it takes your blood too long to clot)
what is meant by the terms ‘grade’ and ‘stage’ when referring to liver biopsy
grade= refers to severity and distribution of inflammation
stage=refers to severity and extent of fibrosis in the liver biopsy
what do high bilirubin levels indicate
Higher than usual levels of bilirubin may indicate different types of liver or bile duct problems. Sometimes, higher bilirubin levels may be caused by an increased rate of destruction of red blood cells (haemolysis)
what are the causes of chronic liver disease?
- alcohol
-fat/metabolic syndrome; non-alcoholic liver disease
-viral hepatitis (HBV/ HCV)
-biliary disease (PBC/PSC)
-autoimmune
-metabolic; haemochromatosis, Wilson’s, A1AT deficiency, amyloid
what is Wilson’s disease
Wilson disease is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from removing extra copper, causing copper to build up in the liver, brain, eyes, and other organs (copper damages these organs)
Life expectancy for Wilson’s: 40 years
symptoms:
Tiredness and loss of appetite.
A yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eye, known as jaundice.
Golden-brown or copper-colored rings around the irises of the eyes, known as Kayser-Fleischer rings.
Fluid buildup in the legs or stomach area.
Problems with speech, swallowing or physical coordination.
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a biliary disease. Define PBC, it’s symptoms + treatments
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic and progressive condition that causes inflammation and, eventually, the destruction of the bile ducts that run through your liver. Without working bile ducts, bile backs up in your liver, causing liver damage.
symptoms:
Yellowing of the skin and eyes, called jaundice.
Dry eyes and mouth.
Pain in the upper right abdomen.
Swelling of the spleen, called splenomegaly.
Bone, muscle or joint pain.
Swollen feet and ankles.
Buildup of fluid in the abdomen due to liver failure, called ascites
treatment: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is the main treatment for PBC. It can help delay liver damage in most people, particularly if you start taking it in the early stages of the condition.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) is a biliary disease. Define PSC, it’s symptoms + treatment
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease in which the bile ducts inside and outside the liver become inflamed and scarred and eventually narrowed or blocked
symptoms;
often asymptomatic! But symptoms include; pain in the abdomen, itchy skin, diarrhea, jaundice, feeling tired or weak, and fever.
treatment:
surgery or liver transplant depending on extent of damage
define pruritis
pruritis= severe itching of skin
name the common clinical signs of chronic liver disease
- palmar erythema (red palms of hands)
-gynaecomastia (enlarged breasts in males)
-hair loss
-spider naevi (a cluster of minute red blood vessels visible under the skin)
-leuchonychia (white nails)
-clubbing of nails
-proximal wasting
-scratch marks (because they scratch the pruritis)
-xanthelasma (yellow bumps on or around eyelid)
what conditions of the spleen can cause a low platelet count
hyposplenism or splenomegaly can cause low platelet count
think of the spleen as a giant macrophage that consumes platelets= less function of spleen =less platelets
explain the mechanism of ascites (accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, is commonly associated with liver cirrhosis but can also be caused by heart failure, kidney disease, or malignancies)
Alcohol directly mediates portal hypertension via multiple possible mechanisms, including increased portal inflow, increased intrahepatic vasoconstriction, inflammation, and changes in the liver vasculature such as perisinusoidal fibrosis and phlebosclerosis
Portal hypertension → increases fluid leakage into the peritoneum.
Reduced effective blood volume → triggers RAAS activation.
RAAS activation → increases aldosterone, promoting sodium and water retention.
Sodium and water retention → worsens ascites by increasing plasma volume and portal pressure, driving more fluid into the abdominal cavity.
The Child-Pugh score is used to class patients with liver cirrhosis into decompensated and compensated cirrhosis. Explain the difference between compensated and decompensated cirrhosis with reference to Child-Pugh score
Compensated Cirrhosis: (Child-Pugh score 5-6) The liver can still perform most of its functions despite scarring. Patients may have few or no symptoms. Portal hypertension is typically mild.
Decompensated Cirrhosis: (Child-Pugh score 7 and above) The liver can no longer compensate, leading to portal hypertension, ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, and hepatic encephalopathy.
what is NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) now known as?
NAFLD is now known as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
patients with type 2 diabetes insulin resistance are more likely to have Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (previously known as NAFLD). Explain the mechanism behind why these patients are more likely to suffer from fatty liver
Insulin resistance leads to increased free fatty acids from adipose tissue, which accumulate in the liver. This increased glucose activates ChREBP
De novo lipogenesis (SREBP1) in the liver increases fat production due to high insulin and glucose levels. This inhibits IR tyrosine kinase. Inappropriate gluconeogenesis (FOXO1-MEDIATED). Impaired glycogen synthesis (muscle and liver)= Akt2-mediated
Impaired fat export as VLDL leads to lipid build-up within hepatocytes as lipolysis is impaired. This all induces PPAR-gamma (which is lipogenic= fatty liver)
this all causes oxidative stress and inflammation from excess fat and high blood sugar further damage liver cells.
Altered adipokine and cytokine profiles promote liver fat accumulation and inflammation.