Organ Functions

Question 1

Functions of the Liver

Answer 1

1. Storing energy in the form of sugar (glucose) 2. Storing vitamins, minerals and iron. 3. Making proteins including blood clotting factors 4. Processing worn out red blood cells 5. Making bile for food digestions 6. Metabolizing (breaking down) medication and alcohol. 7. Killing germs that enter the body through the intestine.

Question 2

Parts of the Liver

Answer 2

Question 3

Consequences of Liver Failure

Answer 3

1. Malabsorption of fat due to lack of bile salts or Vitamin K
2. Disruption of liver metabolism (clotting proteins, fat breakdown, alcohol and medication breakdown, portal hypertension).

Question 4

Portal Hypertension

Answer 4

Abnormally high blood pressure in the portal hepatic vein.

Question 5

Impact of Alchol on the Liver

Answer 5

95% of alcohol is metabolized in the liver.

Inside the liver cells alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde (more toxic than alcohol).

Alcohol causes the liver to become inflamed.

Long term drinking causes fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Question 6

LIver fibrosis

Answer 6

Liver fibrosis is the scarring process that represents the liver’s response to injury. In the same way as skin and other organs heal wounds through deposition of collagen and other matrix constituents so the liver repairs injury through the deposition of new collagen. Over time this process can result in cirrhosis of the liver, in which the architectural organization of the functional units of the liver becomes so disrupted that blood flow through the liver and liver function become disrupted. Once cirrhosis has developed, the serious complications of liver disease may occur, including portal hypertension, liver failure and liver cancer. The risk of liver cancer is greatly increased once cirrhosis develops, and cirrhosis should be considered to be a pre-malignant condition