| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Liver | The heaviest gland in the body; is covered completely covered by visceral peritoneum and is completely covered by a dense irregular connective tissue that lies deep to the peritoneum. |
| Right lobe of liver | Larger part of the liver, above the gallbladder; contains the right hepatic duct |
| Left lobe of liver | Smaller part of the liver |
| Falciform ligament | A fold of the peritoneum that divides the liver into two principal lobes |
| Hepatocytes | Specialized epithelial cells that are involved in protein synthesis, protein storage and transformation of carbohydrates, synthesis of cholesterol, bile salts and phospholipids, and detoxification, modification and excretion of exogenous and endogenous substances; also initiates the formation and secretion of bile. |
| Lobules | A functional unit/division of the liver that consists of hepatocytes |
| Sinusoids | Highly permeable capillaries within the liver lobules through which blood passes (instead of capillaries) |
| Kupffer cells | Phagocytes that are present with sinusoids; destroys worn-out WBCs and RBCs, bacteria, and other foreign matter in the venous blood that drains from the GI tract |
| Bile | A yellowish, brownish, or olive-green liquid that consists of mostly water, bile salts, cholesterol, lecithin, bilirubin, and several ions; ph is around 7.6-8.6; assists in absorption and emulsification of fats |
| Bilirubin | The principal pigment of bile; derived from the phagytosis of RBCs which liberates iron, globin, and heme |
| Jaundice | A yellowish coloration of the sclerae, skin, and mucous membranes due to a buildup of bilirubin |
| Prehepatic jaundice | Caused by excess production of bilirubin |
| Hepatic jaundice | Caused by congenital liver disease, cirrhosis of the liver, or hepatitis |
| Extrahepatic jaundice | Caused by blockage of bile drainage by gallstones or cancer of the bowel or pancreas |
Combine with other sets
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