The Structure of the Liver Flashcards
What are liver cells called?
Hepatocytes
What are the main vessels of the liver?
The hepatic artery - oxygenated blood from the heart travels from the aorta via the hepatic artery to the liver.
The hepatic portal vein - deoxygenated blood from the digestive system enters the liver via the hepatic portal vein.
Hepatic vein - how the blood leaves the liver
Bile duct - carries bile form the liver to the gall bladder
What is the liver divided into?
The lover is divided into lobules and then further divided into lobules.
What are the vessels called that run in between the lobules?
Inter-lobular vessels.
What is the name of the chamber where branches of the hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery merge?
The sinusoid which is lined with liver cells.
What is the name of the specialised macrophages found in the sinusoid?
Kupffer cells
What do Kupffer cells do?
To breakdown and recycle old red blood cells.
What is one of the by products from haemoglobin breakdown?
Bilirubin, which is one of the bile pigments.
Where is bile made and what is it released into?
Bile is made by the liver cells and released into the bile canaliculi.
What do the bile canaliculi join up to form?
The bile duct
Where is bile stored to breakdown fats in the small intestine?
The gall bladder.
Where do the sinusoids empty into?
The intra-lobular vessel which is a branch of the hepatic vein.
What drains blood from the liver?
The hepatic vein which is made up of a number of intra-lobular vessels.
Describe the basic structure of hepatocytes.
Simple cuboidal shape with microvilli on the surface.
List the main metabolic functions of hepatocytes.
Protein synthesis Transformation and storage of carbohydrates Synthesis of cholesterol Synthesis of bile salts Detoxification.
