WEEK 3: WHAT THE LIVER DOES Flashcards
State the functions of the liver.
DIGESTIVE FUNCTIONS
*Synthesizes bile which is used for fat emulsion and aid in its digestion
*Secretes into bile a bicarbonate solution used for neutralizing acid in the duodenum.
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION
*Produces angiotensinogen which is acted on by renin to produce angiotensin I in the RAAS system.
*Forms triiodothyronine from thyroxine.
*Contributed to the activation of vitamin Dl0 8
*Secretes Insulin Growth Factor I in response to growth hormone which promotes growth by stimulating cell division in various tissues, including the bone.
*Secretes cytokines involved in immune defense
*Metabolizes some hormones.
CLOTTING FACTORS
*Produces many clotting factors including Prothrombin and fibrinogen.
*Produces bile salts which are in turn important for the absorption of vitamin K which is used in production of clotting factors
PLASMA PROTEINS
*Synthesizes and secret Albumin, acute phase proteins, binding proteins for various hormones and trace elements, lipoproteins
How many % of water is contained in bile?
State the other elements found in bile.
95%
*Bile salts, bilirubin, phospholipid, cholesterol, amino acids, steroids, enzymes, porphyrins, vitamins, and heavy metals, as well as exogenous drugs, xenobiotics and environmental toxins.
State the functions of bile.
*Bile salts are the major organic solutes in bile and normally function to emulsify dietary fats and facilitate their intestinal absorption.
*Bile is the major route for elimination of cholesterol.
*Bile protects the organism from enteric infections by excreting immune globulin A (IgA), inflammatory cytokines, and stimulating the innate immune system in the intestine. (v)
*Bile is an essential component of the Chole hepatic and enterohepatic circulation
Are a primary component of bile and are needed by the body to help break down fats, aid digestion, absorb important vitamins, and eliminate toxins.
What are these?
Bile salts
What is enterohepatic circulation?
*Enterohepatic circulation is the passage of substances, such as bile salts, that are absorbed from the intestine and carried to the liver, where they are secreted into the bile and again enter the intestine.
*This process involves both vascular and biliary system
What are bile acids formed from?
Cholestrol
State the primary bile acids.
State the 2 other bile acids formed from conversion in the Gut.
1.Cholic acid
Chenodeoxycholic acid
2.Deoxycholic
*Lithocholic
