Liver & Gall Bladder Function

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  • Created by: Becca
  • Created on: 24-12-13 00:21
What are the functions of the liver?
Bile production, metabolism & detoxification of the blood
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What is the structure & cells of the liver?
Lobules: vascular or bile channels. Oxygenated & deoxygenated blood mix in hepatic sinusoids -> comes into hepatocytes via gaps in endothelium -> hepatocyes secrete substances in bile cells. Kupffer cells are immune, contain breakdown produce of RBCs
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What is the process of bile production?
Primary secretion by hepatocytes -> bile canal -> bile passes along duct cells & is modified (HCO3- added to neutralise acidity when it passes into duodenum)
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What do hepatocytes secrete?
Bile salts (cholesterol derivatives, for lipid digestion/absorption), phospholipids, bile pigments (bilirubin), cholesterol & inorganic ions
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What do bile salts undergo?
Enterohepatic recycling: at ileum transporter proteins reabsorb bile salts -> liver (portal venous network), active transport mechanisms in hepatocytes reabsorb bile salts so they're available for secretion again
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What are bile pigments & how are they involved in the production on faeces?
Breakdown products of Hb, unconjugated bilirubin transported to liver via plasma albumin -> glucaronic acid added -> conjugated bilirubin -> SI -> bacterial reaction, remove glucuronide -> urobilinogen -> excreted in faeces (brown pigment)
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How are bile pigments involved in the production of urine?
Some urobilinogen is reabsorbed by the liver. It then travels to kidneys, interacts with O2 -> urobilin -> urine (yellow pigment)
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What does bile production depend on?
Hepatocyte secretions: flow to duodenum prevented by sphincter of Oddi & so enters gall bladder. Bile salts/pigments increases in concentration from reabsorption of salts and water in gall bladder
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How is the liver involved in metabolism?
Liver determines plasma glucose/amino acid concs as a consequence of absorbed nutrients. Liver is site of synthesis of plasma protein albumin & clotting factors and storage of fat soluble vitamins (A/D/E/K), iron, copper, some protein etc
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What is the purpose of detoxification? What are the 2 types & mechanisms?
Multiple enzyme systems allow modification of chemical structures to increase water solubility. Types: endogenous e.g. insulin, glucagon, aldosterone or exogenous e.g drugs. Mechanisms: oxidation -> methylation, reduction -> conjuction
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What is jaundice? What is it treated with? What are the 4 sub-types?
Bilirubin accumulation in plasma, treat wit UV light. Haemolytic (excessive haemolysis), intrahepatic (hepatocyte defect in uptake/secretion), obstructive (blocked bile duct), physiological jaundice of the newborn (poor capacity for conjugation)
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What is hepatitis? What causes acute & chronic hepatitis?
Infection/inflammation of liver. Acute: viral infections (hep A/B/C, drugs (paracetamol). Chronic: > 6 months, viral infection (hepatitis B/C only)
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What is cirrhosis? What causes it?
Necrosis of liver cells, replaced by fibroblasts. Major cause is alcohol or hepatitis B/C. No reversing treatment, stop causative effect or transplant.
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Card 2

Front

What is the structure & cells of the liver?

Back

Lobules: vascular or bile channels. Oxygenated & deoxygenated blood mix in hepatic sinusoids -> comes into hepatocytes via gaps in endothelium -> hepatocyes secrete substances in bile cells. Kupffer cells are immune, contain breakdown produce of RBCs

Card 3

Front

What is the process of bile production?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What do hepatocytes secrete?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What do bile salts undergo?

Back

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