Module 5 : The liver

Question 1

Name the vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver
Name the vessel that returns blood to the heart from the liver

Name the second vessel that supplies blood to the liver

Answer 1

the hepatic artery
the hepatic vein

the hepatic portal vein

Question 2

State the function of the hepatic portal vein

Answer 2

to supply blood containing the products of digestion straight from the intestines to the liver

-this is the starting point for many metabolic activities of the liver

Question 3

What is the scientific name for liver cells?

Give 3 components/features of hepatocytes that indicate they are metabolically active cells

Answer 3

hepatocytes

they contain large nuclei , a prominent golgi apparatus and lots of mitochondria

Question 4

Is the blood from the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein mixed ?
If so , where does this occur?

Answer 4

Yes it does mix , in spaces called sinusoids which are surrounded by hepatocytes

Question 5

What is the purpose of blood from the hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein mixing?

Answer 5

it increases the oxygen content of blood in the hepatic portal vein , therefore supplying hepatocytes with enough oxygen for their needs

Question 6

Name the specialised cells found in sinusoids

Give the function of these cells

Answer 6

Kupffer cells

they act as macrophages in the liver by ingesting foreign particles and protecting against disease

Question 7

What substance is secreted by hepatocytes from the breakdown of blood?

Where is this substance secreted to?

Answer 7

bile

into spaces called canaliculi , from here the bile drains into bile ductules which take it to the gall bladder