Unit 4 - Liver 1 Flashcards
What are some of the major liver functions?
protein metabolism, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, detoxification, hormone and vitamin metabolism, storage, digestive, hematologic, and immunologic functions
What proteins does the liver create?
albumin, carrier proteins, clotting, factors, and many acute phase proteins
How does the liver produce urea?
via protein catabolism causing deamination of amino acids leading to urea
What does the liver metabolize?
glycogen, ketones, cholesterol
How does the liver create bilirubin?
by catabolising heme
What are some clinical signs of hepatic disease?
icterus, hepatic encephalopathy, photosensitization, ascites, and hemorrhage
What can cause hepatic encephalopathy?
hypoglycemia, increased blood ammonia, increased GABA, toxic amines, aromatic Aas
How can hepatic disease lead to photosensitization?
Phylloerythrin is ineffectively removed by the diseased liver and accumulates in the skin
What are the liver causes of ascites?
portal hypertension or hypoalbuminemia
How does hepatic disease cause hemorrhage?
decreased production of clotting factors or massive necrosis initiating the clotting cascade
What is icterus/jaundice?
yellowish discoloration of tissues caused by hyperbilirubinemia
True or False: Icterus is specific for liver disease
FALSE
What are the general hepatic causes of icterus/jaundice?
pre-hepatic, hepatic, and post-hepatic
What is an example of a pre-hepatic cause of icterus/jaundice?
overproduction - ie hemolysis
What can cause hepatic icterus/jaundice?
impaired uptake, metabolism, secretion, and/or transport of bile in the liver OR can be due to hepatocellular degeneration, swelling, or necrosis
What can cause post-hepatic icterus/jaundice?
biliary duct obstruction typically due to intra-luminal or extra-luminal masses/inflammation
If the liver is not functional what will the bile acids be like in serum?
they will be elevated
What are considered the leakage enzymes?
ALT, AST, and SDH
What is considered the hepatic induced secreted enzymes?
ALP
With liver disease, what may the level of bilirubin look like on serum biochemistries?
it may be elevated
In hepatic disease, what will the level of serum bile look like?
it will be elevated
What will the levels of BUN and albumin be like in cases of liver disease?
it may be decreased since they are produced by the liver
What are some clinical ways to evaluate hepatic disease grossly?
radiography, ultrasoumd, contrast studies, or visualize during laparotomy/laparoscopy
What is a common hepatic lesion seen in older dogs?
nodular hyperplasia
What are some ways to biopsy a liver (cuts)?
wedge or percutaneous core
What is the general structure of the liver?
hepatocytes, portal tracts, sinusoids, terminal hepatic venules, bile duct, gall bladder
What are the componenets of the portal triad?
hepatic artery, portal vein, bile ductule, and lymphatics
What are the three liver zones?
periportal zone (zone 1), Midzonal zone (zone 2), and Centrilobular zone (zone 3)
What proportion of cardiac output does the liver receive?
1/4 of total cardiac output
Of the cardiac output that goes to the liver, what percentage of that is delivered via the portal vein?
75% (low O2)
What does the portal vein drain blood from?
the abdominal organs
What is the livers role in filtering blood?
it metabolizes absorbed nutrients and removes absorbed tocins
What is the remaining 25% of the blood that goes to the liver delivered by?
the hepatic artery (high O2)
What does reduced hepatic blood flow lead to? Increased blood flow?
atrophy, hypertrophy
What are some selected diseases of liver vasculature?
passive congestion, portosystemic shunts
What is the cause of passive congestion in the hepatic vasculature?
increased pressure in the hepatic veins
What is passive congestion typically due to?
right sided heart failure
What is the appearance of acute hepatic passive congestion?
the liver is enlarged and dark in color (congested)
What is an example of acute hepatic passive congestion?
Mullberry Heart Disease in swine
What is chronic hepatic passive congestion also known as?
nutmeg liver
What is the appearance of chronic hepatic passive congestion?
the liver is speckled, dark red areas represent dilated and congested central sinusoids and venules, the pale areas are intact periportal region with fatty change
What is chronic hepatic passive congestion often accompanied by?
ascites