Unit 1 Liver Function Flashcards
What is the largest internal organ?
The liver
What color is the liver?
Reddish-brown
How much blood does the liver contain?
Around 1.4 liters
Where is the liver located?
In the upper quadrant just below the diaphragm
What percentage of blood comes from the aorta to the liver?
Around 25%
What percentage of blood comes from the portal vein to the liver?
Around 75%
What are the main functional cells of the liver?
Hepatocytes
What type of macrophages are found in the liver?
Kupffer cells
Which enzyme is the main liver enzyme for hepatobiliary obstruction?
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
Which enzyme is primarily associated with hepatocellular damage?
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
What is the function of sinusoids in the liver?
They serve as vascular spacers
What are the functional units of the liver responsible for metabolism and excretion?
Lobules
What is found in each portal triad?
A hepatic artery, a portal vein, and a bile duct
What are the primary roles of the liver?
Detoxification, metabolism, bile production, and glycogen storage
Which macromolecules does the liver metabolize?
Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
What are the three processes involved in glucose metabolism?
Gluconeogenesis, Glycogenolysis, and Glycogenesis
What is the first pass effect in liver detoxification?
All substances absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract must first pass through the liver before reaching systemic circulation
How does the liver convert ammonia (NH3)?
It converts NH3 into urea
What substances does the liver store?
Glucose (as glycogen), Vitamin A, B12, iron, and copper
What is the normal storage limit for glycogen in the liver?
Up to 20% of liver weight
What is fatty liver disease?
A condition where triglycerides exceed 5% of liver weight
Which vitamin is stored mostly in adipocytes?
Vitamin D
Which vitamin is rapidly depleted and important for clotting factors?
Vitamin K
What is the last function to degrade in liver failure?
Synthetic function
What are PT and APTT tests used for?
Evaluating liver function related to blood clotting
What are ketone bodies used for in starvation?
An alternative fuel source for the brain
What is bilirubin derived from?
Iron-containing heme
What is the principal pigment in bile?
Bilirubin
What are the two primary bile acids?
Cholic acid and Chenodeoxycholic acid
What are the secondary bile acids?
Deoxycholic acid and Chenoxycholic acid
Which liver enzymes are elevated in alcoholic liver disease?
ALT and GGT
What is the most common drug causing liver toxicity?
Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)
What are the three stages of alcohol-induced liver injury?
Alcoholic fatty liver, Alcoholic hepatitis, and Alcoholic cirrhosis
What is the most severe form of alcohol-induced liver injury?
Alcoholic cirrhosis
What is Reye’s syndrome primarily associated with?
Aspirin use in children with viral infections
What are the two main types of liver cancer?
Primary (Hepatocellular carcinoma) and Metastatic liver cancer
What is the most common form of viral hepatitis worldwide?
Hepatitis A
What type of virus causes Hepatitis B?
DNA virus from the Hepadnaviridae family
How is Hepatitis C primarily transmitted?
Through infected blood
Which hepatitis virus is dependent on Hepatitis B for replication?
Hepatitis D
What is the Greek meaning of “Cirrhosis”?
Yellow
What are the two key features of cirrhosis?
Fibrosis and nodules
What is the primary cause of jaundice?
Hyperbilirubinemia
What is Kernicterus?
Deposition of unconjugated bilirubin in the brain of infants
What type of jaundice is caused by excessive RBC destruction?
Pre-hepatic jaundice (Hemolytic Hyperbilirubinemia)
What is Dubin-Johnson Syndrome associated with?
Defective excretion of conjugated bilirubin
What condition is caused by a mutation in the UGT1A1 gene?
Gilbert Syndrome
What is the normal bilirubin reference range in adults?
0.2-1.0 mg/dL
What is the diagnostic test for urine bilirubin?
Fouchet’s test
Which method is more accurate for measuring bilirubin: Malloy-Evelyn or Jendrassik-Grof?
Jendrassik-Grof
