Liver microstructure

Question 1

What is the portal vein filled with

Answer 1

Nutrient rich blood from liver

Question 2

Where is sphincter of odds?

Answer 2

Duodenum

Question 3

Function of hepatocytes

Answer 3

Make bile

Question 4

Function of Canal of Hering

Answer 4

bile -> into tube -> biliary duct -> CBD

Question 5

Function of cholangiocytes

Answer 5

• Ducts lined with cholangiocyte (bile vessels)
• Cholangiocytes push bile into duodenum
• Cholangiocytes release alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

Question 6

When will cholangiocytes release ALP?

Answer 6

• Irritated cholangiocytes release ALP

- Gall stones cause chalngiocytes to be covered in bile and release ALP

Question 7

Cholecystitis

Answer 7

Inflamed gall bladder

Question 8

Cholangitis

Answer 8

Whole biliary tree inflamed

Question 9

Pancreas tumours and ALP

Answer 9

Pancreas tumours cause ALP to rise - impeding on outside of bile duct and causing backlog - upsets cholangiocytes

Question 10

Kupffer cells

Answer 10

Macrophages in liver

Question 11

Stellate cells

Answer 11

Store fat and vit A - role in repair

Question 12

Where is oxygenated blood?

Answer 12

Hepatic artery

Question 13

Pit cell

Answer 13

Immune (NK) cell

Question 14

Fenestra

Answer 14

Windows

Question 15

Space of Disse

Answer 15

Surrounded by villi to absorb nutrients

Question 16

Portal lobule

Answer 16

Triangle with centre being portal triad and ABC being central vein

Question 17

Central lobule

Answer 17

Hexagonal

Question 18

Acinar lobule

Answer 18

Acinar lobule: diamond shaped - open angle is portal triad and acute angles are central veins

• Zone one has best oxygen supply
• Portal vein = oxygen
• Zone 3 are most susceptible when loss of oxygen
• If blood contains toxin, zone 1 will die first

Question 19

What will high hydrostatic pressure cause

Answer 19

• High hydrostatic pressure = ascitis (fluid expelled from portal vein)
• Low oncotic pressure in fluid accumulation due to low albumin concentration