Week 2 - Liver, Gallbladder and Pancreas

Question 1

Where is the Liver situated

Answer 1

In the upper right quadrant of the abdomen

Question 2

Hepatic artery

Answer 2

Carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the liver

Question 3

Hepatic portal vein

Answer 3

Carries nutrient rich, deoxygenated blood from the small intestine to the liver

Question 4

Right and left hepatic ducts

Answer 4

Carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and duodenum

Question 5

Bile

Answer 5

digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder

Question 6

Liver functions (5)

Answer 6

Bile production, storage, inter-conversion of nutrients, detoxification, synthesis of molecules

Question 7

Overview of the 5 liver functions

Answer 7

1. Bile Production:
   Bile enters duodenum and neutralizes and dilutes stomach acid as a low pH renders the
   effectiveness of pancreatic enzymes
   Contains bile salts which emulsifies lipids
   Lipids are hydrophobic
   Therefore, they clump together
   Bile helps break that clump apart
   Enzymes can then breakdown lipids
   Bile Contains NO digestive enzymes
   Stimuli – parasympathetic stimulations, secretin secretion, bile salts (positive feedback)
   Secretion continues until the duodenum empties
2. Storage
   Sugar (as glycogen), lipids, vitamins
   Storage fluctuates depending on the bodies needs
3. Inter-conversion of Nutrients
   The correct nutrients are not always present in the required amounts thus the liver can convert
   nutrients to others if need be
4. Detoxification
   By-products produced during metabolism and ingested toxins are further broken down thus altered to
   less harmful toxins in the liver
   Alcohol – Liver is the primary organ which breaks down alcohol
5. Synthesis of Molecules
   Plasma proteins and clotting factors

Question 8

What causes the gallbladder to secrete bile

Answer 8

Response to cholecystokinin

Question 9

Pancreas function

Answer 9

Secretes substances that exit onto a surface or through a duct that aid in digestion

Question 10

Pancreatic Juice components

Answer 10

Aqueous component
Most important part of the aqueous component is the bicarbonate ions
Neutralizes stomach Chyme
Stops pepsinogen working
Creates a suitable environment for pancreatic juice to function

Enzyme component
Proteolytic pancreatic enzymes – digest proteins
Secreted in their inactive form to prevent digestion of the pancreas where they are produced
Trypsin – activates the secretion of other proteolytic enzymes
Chymotrypsin
Carboxypeptidase
Pancreatic amylase
Continues the work of salivary amylase - the break down of carbohydrates
Pancreatic lipase
Breaks down lipids