Microanatomy 2 Flashcards
list the major functions of the liver
Detoxification of metabolic waste products.
Destruction of used red blood cells and reclamation of their constituents.
Synthesis and secretion of bile which facilitates the absorption of fats and is essential for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The addition of pigments to bile is a mechanism whereby the liver eliminates some waste products of spent red blood cells.
Synthesis of plasma lipoproteins.
Metabolic functions, e.g. glycogen synthesis, gluconeogenesis and storage of glycogen, some vitamins, iron and lipid.
Detoxification of various drugs and toxins, e.g. alcohol.
what is the blood supply of the liver
- the liver has both arterial and venous blood supplies
- absorbed food products pass directly from the gut to the liver via the hepatic portal vein
- oxygen required for liver metabolism is supplied through the hepatic artery
- venous drainage occurs by the way of the hepatic vein
what are hepatocytes
These are parenchymal cells that form plates. They are the main functional cells of the liver.
what are sinusoids
These are the wide vascular channels that separate the plates of hepatocytes.
The majority of cells lining the sinusoids are endothelial cells.
However, scattered among these cells are specific macrophage type cells termed Kupffer cells. These are part of the liver’s defence system.
what are bile ducts
These carry bile from the hepatocytes eventually into the duodenum.
Bile is produced in hepatocytes and is secreted into a network of minute bile canaliculi (no discrete structure of their own) positioned between plasma membranes of adjacent hepatocytes.
what are portal tracts
These are islands of connective tissue containing branches of the portal vein and hepatic artery, running side by side, that bring blood to the sinusoids.
They also contain bile ducts, which carry bile in the opposite direction to the blood flow.
where is bile produced in
produced from the hepatocytes and secreted into a network of minute bile canaliculi
what is good about sinusoids
- as blood passes through sinusoids it is in intimate contact with the hepatocytes so it can exchange nutrients and metabolic products
what is hepatic acinus
- it is now through that the blood flow and function of the liver are more accurately defined by the unit structure known as the hepatic acinus
describe the hepatic lobule concept
- the lobule is roughly hexagonal in shape
- centred on a terminal hepatic venue
- portal tracts are positioned at the angles of the hexagon
- blood from the portal vein and hepatic artery in the portal tract flow to the central vein
describe the hepatic acinus concept
- more accurate functionally then the hepatic lobule concept
- more difficult to define histologically
- berry shaped unit of liver parenchyma centred on a portal tract
- lies between two or more terminal hepatic venues and the blood flows from the portal tracts through the sinusoids to the venues
what are the zones of the acinus
- divided into 3 zones
zone 1
zone 2
zone 3
describe the three zones of the acinus
zone 1
- most central and closest to the terminal distributing branches of the portal venue and hepatic arteriole
- receives oxygen, hormones, and nutrients from the bloodstream and is the site of the most glycogen and plasma protein synthesis
zone 2
- receives slightly less oxygenated blood
zone 3
is furthest away, receiving the least amount of oxygenated blood
- first to show ischemic necrosis and fat accumulation if metabolism is altered and the site of most drug detoxification
what zone in the hepatic acinus is susceptible to ischaemic injury
zone 3 as it receives the least amount of oxygenated blood
describe the grouping of hepatic acinus
- Simple acini are grouped into complex acini and they are grouped into acinar agglomerates.
why is the connective tissue (storm) of the liver important
- maintains the ordered architecture of the liver and the close relationship between the hepatocytes, vasculature and the bile ducts
what happens in cirrhosis
- the normal architecture is disrupted by excess fibrocollagenous tissue resulting in impaired liver function
what are the 3 distinctive ways in which the liver deals with damage
Necrosis of hepatocytes
Fibrosis
Regeneration.
what is the region called in which the larger vascular and billiard components travel
Portal tract
name three major components that are located in the portal tract
Hepatic artery, portal vein and bile duct
where is the central vein
In the centre of the lobule
what is found between the cords of hepatocytes
hepatic sinusoids
what causes haematemesis
- varices have very thin fragile walls so if there is any trauma such as vomiting they can rupture and this can cause haematemsis
How does the liver respond to injury
- hepatocyte degeneration and intracellular accumulations
- hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis
- inflammation
- regeneration
- fibrosis
what are zonal necrosis
- this is when cells die from toxic insult or as a result of cardiac failure or other alteration in venous drainage