Digestive System - The Almighty Liver

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to the liver, its structure, functions, and related digestive processes.

Liver

A vital organ that regulates various metabolic processes and produces bile.

Hepatocyte

A liver cell responsible for various functions including metabolism and bile production.

Bile

A digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps in the emulsification of fats.

Hepatic Portal Vein

The vein that carries nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.

Bile Duct

A duct that conveys bile from the liver and gallbladder to the duodenum.

Gallbladder

A pear-shaped sac that stores and concentrates bile.

Gallstones

Hard deposits that form in the gallbladder, often due to concentrated bile.

Digestive Functions of the Liver

Includes regulating nutrient levels, storage of glucose, and production of bile salts.

Central Vein

A vein that runs through the center of a liver lobule.

Portal Triad

The arrangement of a portal vein, hepatic arteriole, and bile ductule in a liver lobule.

Hepatic Lobules

The structural units of the liver consisting of hepatocytes and blood vessels.

Hepatic Sinusoids

Blood-filled channels in the liver that facilitate the exchange of substances.

Kupffer Cells

Specialized macrophages in the liver that phagocytize bacteria and debris.

Bile Acids

Steroids synthesized from cholesterol that help digest fats.

Emulsification

The process of breaking down fats into smaller droplets for better digestion.

Cystic Duct

The duct that connects the gallbladder to the common hepatic duct.

Hepatopancreatic Sphincter

A muscular valve that regulates bile and pancreatic juice entry into the duodenum.

Nutrient-rich Blood

Blood that is enriched with nutrients absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract.

Enterohepatic Circulation

The recycling process of bile acids between the intestine and the liver.

Detoxification

The process by which the liver removes toxins and harmful substances from the blood.

Hepatic Artery

The artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver.

Hepatic Vein

The vein that carries deoxygenated blood away from the liver.

Blood Flow from the Gut

Nutrient-rich blood flows from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.

Bile Ductules

Small ducts that transport bile from the hepatocytes to larger bile ducts.

Bile Canaliculi

Narrow channels in liver lobules through which bile is secreted by hepatocytes.

Liver Functions

Include metabolism, detoxification, immunity, and bile production.

Hepatic Veins

Veins that drain blood from the liver and return it to the heart.

Structural Organization of Liver

The liver is organized into functional units called lobules.

Bile Recycling

The process where bile acids are reabsorbed and reused during digestion.

Hepatic Organ Functions

The liver performs metabolic, synthetic, and detoxifying functions.

Flow of Blood through Liver

Blood enters through the hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery, and exits through the hepatic vein.

Liver Lobes

The liver is divided into different lobes: left, right, caudate, and quadrate.

Inferior Vena Cava

The large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

Portal Venule

Small branches of the portal vein within the liver lobule.

Hepatic Arteriole

Small branches of the hepatic artery supplying blood to the liver.

Vascular Network of the Liver

The liver contains a complex arrangement of blood vessels for efficient blood flow.

Immune Functions of the Liver

The liver helps produce immune factors and remove pathogens from the blood.

Clotting Factors

Proteins produced by the liver that help in blood coagulation.

Bile Salts

Compounds derived from bile acids that aid in fat digestion.

Role of Enterocytes

Intestinal cells that absorb nutrients from digested food.

Pancreatic Duct

The duct that carries digestive enzymes from the pancreas to the duodenum.

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Nutrient Absorption

The process where nutrients from digested food are taken up by the body.

Water and Electrolytes Absorption

The process where water and salts are absorbed by the gallbladder to concentrate bile.

Flow of Bile

Bile flows from hepatocytes to bile ducts and eventually to the duodenum.

Hepatic Macrophages

Cells in the liver that play a role in immune response.

Nutrient Storage

The liver stores nutrients like glucose and vitamins for later use.

Bile Concentration

The process of absorbing water and electrolytes to concentrate bile in the gallbladder.

Blood from Stomach and Intestines

~70% of the liver's blood flow comes from the gastrointestinal tract.

Bile Composition

Contains bile acids, cholesterol, and bilirubin, which aid in fat digestion.