Liver, Gallbladder, and Pancreas

Where is the liver located?

Right hypochondrium + epigastric region, extending into left upper quadrant

What is posterior to the bile system?

Omental foramen

How is the right and left lobes divided?

Falciform ligament (Anterosuperiorly)

Fissure of the ligamentum venosum and ligamentum teres (visceral surface)

Key three features of the portal vein (from dr. collins)

Carries blood from intestines to liver, transporting nutrients and toxins
Delivers blood to liver sinusoids for detox

Supplies liver with 75% of blood (deoxygenated)

What are the two surfaces of the liver?

Diaphragmatic (anterior/superior/posterior)

Visceral (inferior)

What characterizes the diaphragmatic surface?

Smooth, dome-shaped, contacts diaphragm

What is the subphrenic recess?

Space between the liver and diaphragm

What is the heptorenal recess?

Space between the liver and right kidney → Fluid accumulation site

What does the falciform ligament do?

Divides the right and left lobe (anatomically)

Describe the functional and anatomical differences of the caudate and quadrate lobe

Anatomical: Part of right lobe

Functional: Part of left lobe

What connects liver to the stomach? To the duodenum?

Hepatogastric ligament

Hepatoduodenal ligament

What are the anatomical lobes?

Right

Left

Caudate

Quadrate

Which lobe is the largest?

Right lobe

How are liver segments organized?

Based on the bile duct + vascular supply (8 segments)

Ex. Caudate lobe is segement 1

What is the arterial blood supply of liver?

Right and left heptaic arteries

What is bile’s main function?

Fat digestion and absorption

Trace bile flow from liver to duodenum

Liver → Right/Left hepatic ducts → Common hepatic duct → + cystic duct → Common bile duct → + pancreatic duct → Ampulla of Vater → Duodenum

What is the ampulla of Vater?

Junction of bile duct + pancreatic duct

What controls bile entry into the duodenum?

Sphincter of Oddi (collection of smooth muscle cells)

Where is the gallbladder located?

On visceral surface of liver between right and quadrate lobes

What are the parts of the gallbladder?

Fundus

Body

Neck

What does the gallbladder do?

Stores and concentrates bile

What supplies the gallbladder?

Cystic artery (branch of the right hepatic artery)

Where is the pancreas located?

Retroperitoneal, posterior to stomach

What are the parts of the pancreas?

Head

Uncinate process

Neck

Body

Tail

Where is the head of the pancreas?

Inside C-shaped duodenum

Where does portal vein form?

Behind neck of pancreas (SMV + splenic vein)

What do pancreatic acinar cells do?

Secrete digestive enzymes (exocrine function)

Exocrine pancreas function?

Digestive enzyme secretion

Endocrine pancreas function?

Hormone secretion (insulin, glucagon)

Pathway of pancreatic duct

Tail → Body → Head → Joins bile duct → Duodenum

What is the accessory pancreatic duct?

Secondary duct draining into minor duodenal papilla

Where do bile and pancreatic secretions enter?

Major duodenal papilla

What supplies the pancreas?

Celiac trunk branches (splenic, gastroduodenal)

SMA branches (inferior pancreaticoduodenal)

Where is the uncinate process of the pancreas?

Projects from lower part of head, passes posterior to superior mesenteric vessels

Where is the neck of the pancreas?

Anterior to superior mesenteric vessel

Posterior to neck: SMV and splenic vein join to form the portal vein

Where is the body of the pancreas?

Elongate and extends from the neck to the tail

Where is the tail of the pancreas?

Passes between layers of splenorenal ligament