Liver

Question 1

Where is the liver located in the body?

Answer 1

Right upper quadrant of the abdomen.

• beneath the diaphragm.

Question 2

Which vein/artery does the liver receive its blood?

Answer 2

• Hepatic portal vein.

- Hepatic artery.

Question 3

How much blood flow does the liver receive from each of its sources?

Answer 3

• Hepatic portal vein = 70-75% blood supply.

- Hepatic artery = 25-30% blood supply.

Question 4

What are the 4 functions of the liver?

Answer 4

1) . Regulation, synthesis and secretion.
2) . Storage.
3) . Purification, transformation and clearance.
4) . Fighting infections.

Question 5

How does storage of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?

Answer 5

• Iron.
• Fat soluble vitamins.
• Glycogen.

Question 6

How does regulation, synthesis and secretion of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?

Answer 6

• Makes plasma proteins.
• Makes clotting factors.
• Produces cholesterol.
• Controls levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood.
• Manufacturing bile.

Question 7

How does purification, transformation and clearance of the liver contribute to homeostasis and health?

Answer 7

• Breaks down aged red blood cells.
• Processing hormones.
• Processing digested food from the intestine.
• Neutralising and destroyed drugs and toxins.

Question 8

How does the liver fighting infections contribute to homeostasis and health?

Answer 8

Specialised macrophages in the liver (Kupffer cells) destroy any bacteria that they come into contact with.

Question 9

What are the 3 roles the liver plays in metabolism?

Answer 9

1) . Carbohydrate metabolism.
2) . Protein metabolism.
3) . Fat metabolism.

Question 10

How does the liver metabolise carbohydrates?

Answer 10

1) . Glycogenesis.
2) . Glycogenolysis.
3) . Gluconeogenesis.

Question 11

What is glycogenesis?

Answer 11

Liver stores excess glucose in the form of glycogen.

Question 12

What is glycogenolysis?

Answer 12

Glycogen is broken down to release glucose.

Question 13

What is gluconeogenesis?

Answer 13

New glucose is formed from protein and glycerol (fat).

Question 14

How does the liver metabolise protein?

Answer 14

1) . Deamination and urea formation.
2) . Transamination =
- amino acids converted into more important amino acids.
3) . Protein formation.

Question 15

How is urea eliminated?

Answer 15

• Liver breaks down amino acids in protein to ammonia, CO2, water and energy.
• Ammonia is toxic to cells.
• Liver converts ammonia to urea.
• Urea transported in the blood to the kidneys.
• Urea eliminated in urine.

Question 16

How is the liver divided?

Answer 16

Into liver lobules =

• cylindrical shaped.

Question 17

What is a liver lobule?

Answer 17

• Each filled with millions of liver cells.

- Carry out the metabolic functions of the liver.

Question 18

What types of tissue surrounds each liver lobule?

Answer 18

Connective tissue.

Question 19

What is the in centre of the lobule?

Answer 19

Central vein.

Question 20

What are liver cells called?

Answer 20

Hepatocytes.

Question 21

What are sinusoids?

Answer 21

• Formed inbetween the cords of hepatocytes in liver lobules.
• Thin-walled blood vessels lined with epithelial cells and Kupffer cells (macrophages).
• Remove aged red blood cells, bacteria and debris from the blood.

Question 22

What are stellate cells in the liver?

Answer 22

Cells involved in fibrosis and the formation of scar tissue in response to liver damage.