Week 2

Question 1

Liver anatomy

Answer 1

Heaviest gland 1.4kg
2nd largest organ to skin
Inferior to diaphragm, occupies most of R hypochondriac region/some epigastric region of abdominopelvic cavity.
almost completely covered by visceral peritoneum
covered by dense irregular CT
R & L lobe divided/suspended by falciform ligament (fold in mesentery).

Question 2

Gallbladder

Answer 2

Pear shaped sac
located in depression of posterior surface of liver
7-10cm long, hangs from anterior inferior margin of liver.
Fundus (broad)/body/neck (tapered)
Body and neck project superiorly
Mucosa - simple columnar epithelium arranged in rugae
Wall lacks submucosa

Question 3

Liver/Gallbladder histology

Answer 3

Hepatocytes: metabolic, secretory, endocrine functions
- 5-12 sides, 80% volume of liver
- form hepatic laminae arrangements
- secrete bile into canaliculi in grooves between cells membranes
Bile canaliculi: collect bile
Hepatic sinusoids:

Question 4

hepatic laminae

Answer 4

Plates of hepatocytes 1 cell thick
3 dimensional
bordered by endothelial lined hepatic sinusoids
Highly branched/irregular

Question 5

Bile

Answer 5

Yellow/brownish/olive-green excretory product/digestive secretion
Produced by hepatocytes in haptic laminae
Flows into bile canaliculi, bile ductules, bile ducts, R/L hepatic duct, exit liver as common hepatic duct, joins cystic duct, common bile duct, duodenum
Flows in opposite direction to blood
Contain bile salts play in emulsification of large lipid globules
Exocrine function

Question 6

Hepatic sinusoid

Answer 6

Highly permeable blood capillaries between rows of hepatocytes
Receive O2 blood from hepatic artery/nutrient rich deO2 blood from hepatic portal vein.
Flows to central vein, hepatic veins, inferior vena cava
Contains fixed phagocytes - stellate reticuloendothelial cells (hepatic macrophages) to destroy worn out w/r blood cells, bacteria, other foreign matter in venous blood from GIT

Question 7

Portal triad

Answer 7

a bile duct
branch of hepatic artery
branch of hepatic vein

Question 8

Liver function

Answer 8

Carbohydrate metabolism - glycogen to glucose
Lipid metabolism - triglycerid
Protein metabolism
Process drugs/hormones
Excrete bilirubin
Bile salt synthesis
Store vitamins/minerals
Phagocytosis
Activation of Vitamin D