The Liver, Biliary System and Pancreas Flashcards
Why are the liver, gallbladder and spleen considered to be organs associated to the GI tract?
They all produce secretions which feed into the GI tract and help facilitate digestion of food
Embryonically, where is the spleen developed from?
The dorsal meso-gastrum and hence is found in the foregut region
Why is the liver considered an accessory digestive gland?
Due its ability to synthesise bile
What two quadrants of the abdomen is the liver found in?
Predominantly RUQ, but also extends a little into LUQ
Superiorly, the liver can extend up to which rib?
The 4th rib
In terms of the nine abdominal regions, where can the liver be found?
Predominantly right hypochondrium and epigastric region. Also extends a little into left hypochondrium
What separates the left and right lobes of the liver?
Falciform ligament
What is the falciform ligament?
A ligament which separates the right and left lobes
Why is the falciform ligament not considered a ligament in the classical sense?
It is more a double folded peritoneum
Embryonically, where is the liver derived from?
The ventral meso-gastrum
There are two sacs in the peritoneal cavity, what are they called?
Greater sac and lesser sac
The liver has two main surfaces, what are they?
Diaphragmatic surface (associated with the diaphragm) Visceral surface (associated with visceral organs)
What is the hepato-renal recess also known as?
Pouch of Morrison
Why is the pouch of Morrison particularly important?
It is the most deepest part of the abdominal peritoneal cavity when a patient is supine
What is the function of the falciform ligament?
Attachment of the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm
The falciform ligament splits superiorly into..?
The coronary ligament
Inferior to the falciform ligament is…?
Ligamentum teres
Where does the fundus of the gallbladder lie?
At the tip of the 9th costal cartilage
On which plane does the gallbladder lie?
Transpyloric plane
What is the “bare area” of the liver?
A large triangular surface of the liver which has no peritoneal covering
Which large vein can be seen embedded in the posterior aspect of the liver?
Inferior vena cava
What are the names given to the three hepatic veins which drain into the inferior vena cava?
Right hepatic vein
Left hepatic vein
Middle hepatic vein
The gallbladder can be divided into three main sections: What are they?
Neck
Body
Fundus
The neck of the gallbladder drains into..?
The cystic duct
The bile duct is formed from the joining of which ducts?
The cystic duct and hepatic duct
Aside from the left and right lobes of the liver, what other lobes are there and what are their locations?
Quadrate lobe: Inferior / Anterior
Caudrate lobe: Posterior / Superior
What structure separates the caudate and quadrate lobe?
Porta hepatis (Hilum of the liver)
What comprises the portal triad?
Hepatic portal vein
Common bile duct
Hepatic artery proper
What are the two major vessels supplying blood INTO the liver?
Hepatic artery
Hepatic portal vein
In total how many lobes are there in the liver?
8
The common bile duct along with the ___ drains into the ______?
Alongside the pancreatic duct drains into the duodenum
What are the two functions of the spleen?
Filtration and storage of red blood cells
Immune function
Which of the germ layers is the spleen derived from?
Mesodermal origin
Of the nine regions of the abdomen, is the spleen located in?
Left hypochondrium
The simultaneous enlargement of both liver and spleen is called..?
Hepatosplenomegaly
What is the function of the gallbladder?
Storage and concentration of the bile
In which portion of the duodenum is the Hepatopancreatic ampulla of Vater found?
D2 - Descending
What is the hepatopancreatic ampulla?
It is a structure formed by the union of the pancreatic duct and common bile duct
The hepatopancreatic ampulla / Ampulla of Vater is located where on D2?
The major duodenal papilla
What is the diagnostic procedure used to examine disease of the liver, bile duct and pancreas?
ERCP
What is choleslithiasis?
Gallstones in the gallbladder
What are the functions of the kidneys?
Homeostasis and removal of excess organic molecules from blood
What is a ureter?
Connection between kidneys and bladder
