Organisation and Function of the Liver Flashcards

1
Q

State Courvoisier’s Law.

A

In the presence of an enlarged gallbladder that is non-tender and accompanied with mild jaundice, the cause is unlikely to be gallstones.

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2
Q

What is Calot’s triangle?

A

It is the triangular space that is dissected in a cholecystectomy to identify a window to safely expose the gallbladder. Demarcated by: common hepatic duct, cystic duct and the cystic artery

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3
Q

Where is the origin of the liver and biliary system in the gut tube?

A

Distal part of the foregut and the proximal midgut

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4
Q

What system is used to describe liver development?

A

Carnegie System - 23 stages - first 60 days of development

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5
Q

What is the septum transversum?

A

A thick mass of cranial mesenchyme that gives rise to parts of the thoracic diaphragm and ventral mesentery of the foregut - the septum transversum arises from the mesoderm

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6
Q

Around when does the liver bud become apparent?

A

29 days

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7
Q

What three structures form from the initial endodermal sprout?

A

Liver, Gallbladder and Ventral bud of the pancreas

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8
Q

When does the liver rotate to the right?

A

10 weeks

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9
Q

What proportion of the blood supply to the liver is via a) hepatic portal vein and b) hepatic artery proper?

A

Hepatic portal vein - 80%
Hepatic artery proper - 20%
The liver receives 25% of the cardiac output

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10
Q

Describe the Couinaud classification of the liver segments.

A

8 functionally independent segments - starting with 1 centrally and then going clockwise. Each segment can be resected without damaging the remaining segments.

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11
Q

State the five main cell types of the liver?

A
Hepatocytes
Endothelial Cells (sinusoidal)
Cholangiocytes
Hepatic Stellate Cells 
Kupffer Cells
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12
Q

Where is bile produced?

A

Hepatocytes

And, to a lesser extent, in the cholangiocytes

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13
Q

Describe the morphological divisions of the liver.

A

Divided into lobules and portal tracts/triads

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14
Q

Describe the functional divisions of the liver.

A

Acini, blood flow, bile flow

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15
Q

What is a lobule?

A

An area of the liver that is at a HISTOLOGICAL scale. Hexagonal.

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16
Q

What are the three areas of a lobule?

A

Centrilobular
Midzonal
Periportal

17
Q

What does the portal triad consist of?

A

Branch of the hepatic portal vein
Branch of the hepatic artery
Bile duct

18
Q

Describe the path of the blood flow through a lobule.

A

The blood flows towards the central vein

19
Q

What is that shape of an acinus and what are its three regions?

A

Diamond
Periportal
Transition zone
Pericentral

20
Q

What are the roles of zone 1 and zone 3?

A

Zone 1 - gluconeogenesis, oxidation of fatty acids and cholesterol synthesis
Zone 3 - glycolysis, lipogenesis and P450 based drug detoxification

21
Q

Describe the cytological features of a hepatocyte.

A

Hepatocytes are LARGE cells and they have a PALE + ROUNDED nucleus

22
Q

Describe the cytological features of hepatic stellate cells and Kupffer cells.

A

They appear to be found in the sinusoids

They have a flat, dense nucleus

23
Q

State four main functions of the liver.

A

Protein, Carbohydrate and Fat Metabolism

Detoxification

24
Q

Describe the lipid metabolism function of hepatocytes.

A

Triglyceride metabolism - synthesis of fatty acids converted to triglycerides and lipoproteins for transport to the cells requiring energy
Digested triglyceride chylomicron remnants processed into lipoproteins
Bile acid production

25
Q

What are the roles of hepatic stellate cells?

A

Vitamin A storage

Production of fibrous tissue (responsible for cirrhosis)

26
Q

What are the roles of sinusoidal endothelial cells?

A

Fenestrated - allows lipids and other large molecule movement to and from hepatocytes

27
Q

What are the roles of Kupffer cells?

A

Resident phagocytes

Secretion of cytokines that activate hepatic stellate cells

28
Q

What bud are the biliary structures formed from?

A

Pars cystica

29
Q

What does ERCP stand for?

A

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

30
Q

On the ultrastructure of hepatocytes: how are the RER and Golgi Apparatus involved in protein metabolism?

A

• RER - needed for synthesis:
o Non-essential amino acids, clotting factors, albumin
• Golgi Apparatus - needed to pack for secretion

31
Q

On the ultrastructure of hepatocytes: name three structures involved in carbohydrate metabolism. How can carbohydrates be metabolised?

A
  • SER
  • Mitochondria
  • Cytoplasmic enzymes

• Needed for glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis

32
Q

On the ultrastructure of hepatocytes: name three structures involved in lipid metabolism. How can lipids be metabolised?

A
  • SER
  • Peroxisomes
  • Mitochondria

• Needed for triglyceride metabolism and bile acid production

33
Q

On the ultrastructure of hepatocytes: name two structuress involved in detoxification. How does detoxification occur?

A

Detoxification
• Lysosomes
• SER

• Metabolise/modify/detoxify exogenous compounds