Structure of the Liver

Question 1

The Hepatic artery

Answer 1

> oxygenated blood from the heart travels from the aorta via the hepatic artery into the liver
this supplies oxygen essential for respiration in liver cells carrying out metabollic processes

Question 2

The hepatic portal vein

Answer 2

> de oxygenated blood from the digestive system enters the liver via the hepatic portal vein
the concentrations of compounds in the blood have to be adjusted before blood can circulate
blood leaves the liver via the hepatic vein which rejoins the vena cava

Question 3

Bile duct

Answer 3

> a fourth vessel connected to the liver

> bile duct carries bile from the liver to the gall bladder where it is stored

Question 4

Structure of the Liver

Answer 4

> liver is divided into lobes which further divide into cylindrical lobules
as the HA and the HPV enter the liver they split into smaller vessels that tun between lobules
blood interchanges between the two vessels and passes along a chamber called the sinusoid
as the blood flows down the sinusoid it flows close to liver cells so substances are removed and replaced
blood then leaves the sinusoid and enters the HV where it leaves the the liver

Question 5

Liver Cells

Answer 5

> hepatocytes are unspecialised
cuboidal shape with microvilli on their surface
functions include protein synthesis, transformation and storage of carbs, making cholesterol and detoxification
dense cytoplasm due to number of organelles