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Functions of the liver

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Outline the circulation of blood through liver tissue
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Outline the circulation of blood through liver tissue
- The liver contains huge number of cells called hepatocytes.
-The liver is supplied with blood by two vessels, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic artery.
-The Hepatic vein carries blood away, while blood brought by the hepatic portal vein is deoxygenated (as it has already flowed through the walls of stomach or intestines)
- One of the main functions of the liver is regulate level of nutrients before blood flows to the rest of the body
- Inside the liver, hepatic portal vein divides into vessels called sinusoids (wider than normal capillaries with porous walls)
- Many pores between the one cell layer, but no basement membrane
- Blood flowing through the sinusoids therefore in very close contact with surrounding hepatocytes
- Hepatic artery supplies liver with oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart via the aorta
- Branches of hepatic artery join the sinusoids at various points along length, providing hepatocytes with oxygen needed for aerobic respiration
- The sinusoids drain into wider vessels that are branches of the hepatic vein
- blood from liver is carried by the hepathic vein to the right side of heart via inferior vena cava
Image: Outline the circulation of blood through liver tissue
What are the 5 roles of the liver
Nutrient storage and regulation
Breakdown of erythrocytes
Synthesis of plasma protein
Synthesis of cholesterol
Detoxification
Explain the role of the liver in nutrient regulation
When certain nutrients are excess in the blood, hepatocytes absorb and store them, releasing them when the level is low.
Eg. when blood glucose is too high, insulin stimulates hepatocytes to absorb glucose and convert it to glycogen.
When too low, glucagon stimulates hypatocytes to break down glycogen and release glucose into the blood
Iron, vitamin A, Vitamin D are also stored in the liver
Explain the role of the liver in the breakdown of erythrocytes
Erythrocytes (red blood cells) have a fairly short lifespan (120 days). Plasma membrane becomes fragile and eventually ruptures, releasing the heamoglobin into the blood plasma. This hemoglobin is absorbed through phagocytosis mainly in the liver, using the phagocytic plasma cells called Kupffer cells.
Inside these cells, Hemoglobin is split into the heme and globin groups. Globins are hydrolysed into amino acids, which are released from the blood
Iron is removed from the heme groups, leacing a yellow substance called Bile pigments, or bilirubin
The iron and bile pigments are released into the blood, and the iron carried away by the blood marrow. Bile pigments are used for bile production in the liver.
Explain the role of the liver in the synthesis of plasma proteins
The rough endoplasmic reticulum of hepathocytes produces 90% of the proteins in blood plasma, including all the albumin and fibrinogen