Liver
Largest internal organ; located in the R upper quadrant
liver blood supply
➢ ~ 20 % Hepatic artery - oxygenated blood
➢ 80% Portal vein –nutrients
bile duct system
Common Hepatic Duct
- left and right hepatic ducts forms the common hepatic duct
- drains bile from the liver
- transports waste from the liver and aids in digestion by releasing bile
Common Bile Duct
- carries bile from the liver and the gallbladder through the pancreas and into the duodenum
- part of the biliary duct system; formed where the ducts from the liver and gallbladder are joined
Hepatic Veins
drain venous blood from liver to inferior vena cava and on to the right
Hepatic Artery
Hepatic Artery – provides oxygen and nutrition to liver tissues
Hepatic Portal Vein
delivers substances absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, intestine, spleen and pancreas) for metabolic conversion and/or removal in the liver
hepatocytes proteins produced
bilirubin
role of hepatocytes
➢ bilirubin is from breakdown of RBCs; bilirubin transported to liver by being bound to albumin (unconjugated form)
➢ Liver conjugates bilirubin by unbinding the protein binding it to glucose; this unconjugated form is in bile
➢ Produces bile for digestion
➢ Produces cholesterol for fat storage
Bilirubin levels escalate from:
➢ Blood disorders - hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, inadequate transfusions
➢ **Chronic liver disease **
➢ Blockage of bile ducts in liver or gallbladder
➢ Viral hepatitis, EtOH induced hepatitis; drug induced hepatitis, cirrhosis, etc.
➢ Increased bilirubin –jaundice, fatigue, cutaneous itch, discolored urine, discolored feces (?)
nutritional function hepatocytes
➢ Regulates nutrients
- glucose
- glycogen
- lipids
- amino acids
excretion function hepatocytes
➢ Prepares drugs for excretion
➢ Responsible for drug conjugation and metabolism
oBilirubin conjugation
oPhase I –cytochrome P450; can produce toxic metabolites
oPhase II –conjugation (glucuronidation, sulfation, inactivation by glutathione, etc.)
forms of damage at liver
➢ Hepatocellular (inflammation and injury)
➢ Cholestatic (obstructive)
➢ Mixed
➢ Cirrhosis (fibrotic, end-stage); acute or chronic
➢ Neoplastic
general signs of liver dx
➢ skin?
➢ gut?
➢ swelling?
➢ bleed?
➢ urine?
➢ stool?
➢ Mental?
➢ eyes?
➢ Spider angiomas
➢ Palmar erythema
➢ nn?
➢ skin?
➢ Jaundice
➢ Ascites
➢ Edema
➢ GI bleed
➢ Dark urine
➢ Light stool
➢ Mental confusion
➢ Xanthelasma
➢ Spider angiomas
➢ Palmar erythema
➢ Asterixis
➢ Hyperpigmentation
symptoms liver dx
➢ Appetite loss ֎
➢ Bloating
➢ Nausea
➢ RUQ pain
➢ Fatigue
➢ Mental confusion
Xanthelasma
fatty chol deposits in occular area
spider angiomas
poor clotting factors= capillary fragibility
Asterixis
hepatic encehpalopathy
Asterixis pathogenesis
common blood tests
*Complete Blood Count (CBC)
*Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
*Multiple others available for specific patient evaluations
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Liver Function Tests
*Bilirubin
*Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
*Transaminases
- Aspartate amino transferase (AST)
- Alanine amino transferase (ALT)
- Gama-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT)
*Albumin
*Globulin
high bilirubin levels
oProduct of heme breakdown
oIncreased total bilirubin, increased severity of liver injury
measured in congugated and unconguated forms