Functions of the Liver

By: Putri-Raisha
Essential Idea: The chemical composition of the blood is regulated by the liver

Undertsnadings:

- The liver intercepts blood from

the gut to regulate
Liver Blood Flow
Understanding: The liver intercepts blood from
the gut to regulate nutrient levels
The liver is a lobed organ located below the
diaphragm that functions to regulate the
chemical composition of blood.
- It receives oxtgenated blood via the
hepatic artery
- The liver also receives nutrients rich blood
from the gut via the portal vein
- Deoxygenated blood is transported from
the liver via the hepatic vein
The liver functions to process the nutrients
absorbed from the gut and hence regulates the
body’s’ metabolic processes.
- It is responsible for the storage and
controlled release of key nutrients (e.g.
glycogen, cholesterol, and triglycerides)
- It is responsible for the detoxification of
potentially harmful ingested substances
(e.g. amino acids, medications, and
alcohol)
- It produces plasma proteins hat function to
maintain sustainable osmotic conditions
within the bloodstream
- T is responsible for the breakdown of red
blood cells and the production of bile salts
Overview of Hepatic Circulation
Liver Structure
Application: Dual blood supply to the liver and differences between sinusoids and capillaries

Hepatic Lobules:

The liver is composed of smaller histological structures called lobules, which are roughly hexagonal in shape

- Each lobule is surrounded by branches of the hepatic artery and the portal vein
- These vessels drain into capillary-like structures called sinusoids, which exchange materials directly with the
hepatocytes
- The sinusoids drain into central vein, which feeds deoxygenated blood into the hepatic vein
- Hepatocytes also produce bile, which is transported by vessels called canaliculi to bile ducts, which surround the
lobule
Structural Organisation of the Liver
Liver Structure
Sinusoids:

Sinusoids are a type of small blood vessel found in the liver that perform a similar
function to capillaries (material exchange)

- Sinusoids have increased permeability, allowing larger molecules to enter and

leave the bloodstream

The increased permeability of sinusoids is important for liver function and is due to
a number of structural features:

- The surrounding diaphram is incomplete or discontinuous in sinusoids

- The endothelial layer contains large intercellular gaps and fewer tight
junctions (that allows the passaging of larger molecules)
Structural Differences Between Sinusoids and Capillaries
Nutrient Supply
The liver plays an important role in regulating
the levels of nutrients in the bloodstream
- Nutrients absorbed by the small intestine
are transported by the hepatic portal vein
to the liver for metabolism
- The liver converts these nutrients into
forms that can be stored and mediates
their transport to various tissues
- Nutrients stored within the liber include
glycogen, iron, vitamin A and D
Carbohydrate Metabolism:
- excess glucose in the bloodstream is
taken up by the liver and stored as
glycogen
- When blood glucose levels drop, the liver
breaks dwn glycogen into glucose and
exports it to body tissues
- When hepatic gylcogen reserves become
exhausted, the liver sythesises glucose
from other sources
- These metabolic processes are
coordinated by the pancreatic hormones -
insulin and glucagon
■ The body can not store amino acids, meaning
they must be broken down when in excess
■ Amino acid breakdown releases an amine group
(NH2), which cannot be used by the body and is
potentially toxic
■ The liver is responsible for the removal of the
amine group (deamination) and its conversion
into a harmless product
■ The amine group is converted into urea by the
liver, which is excreted within urine by the kidneys
■ The liver can also synthesise non-essential amino
acids from surplus stock (via transamination)