Detailed Study Notes on the Liver, Gallbladder, and Intestinal Physiology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and definitions related to the microscopic structure of the liver and its functions.

Portal Vein

The vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver for processing and detoxification.

Hepatic Artery

The artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the liver from the abdominal aorta.

Hepatic Vein

The vein through which filtered blood exits the liver.

Lobule

The functional unit of the liver, consisting of a hexagonal arrangement of cells.

Central Vein

The primary drainage point in the center of a liver lobule.

Hepatic Sinusoids

Small, irregularly shaped blood vessels within the liver lobules, where filtration and detoxification occur.

Kupffer Cells

Resident macrophages in the liver that filter out old blood cells and pathogens.

Bile Canaliculi

Small channels within the liver lobules through which bile is secreted.

Triad

The collection of three structures (portal vein, hepatic artery branch, bile duct) found at each corner of a liver lobule.

Bile

Substance produced by the liver that aids in the digestion of fats.

Bilirubin

A waste product from the breakdown of hemoglobin, contributing to the color of bile and feces.

Gallbladder

An organ that stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver until needed for digestion.

Co-transport

The process in which sodium ions help to transport glucose and other nutrients into intestinal cells.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that involves the addition of water to break down complex molecules.

Mass Movements

Rapid contractions in the large intestine that move fecal matter toward the rectum.

Gastrocolic Reflex

A physiological reaction that stimulates bowel movement in response to food entering the stomach.

Ileocecal Valve

The valve that separates the small intestine from the cecum of the large intestine.