CC2 – PRELIM – Take Home Task

VASQUEZ, Kristin Louise C.

MLS-3

I.​ Describe the major anatomical parts of the liver.

●​ The Four Liver Lobes.
THE FOUR LIVER LOBES DESCRIPTION IMAGE
-​ The right lobe, located on the right side of the liver, is
approximately six times larger than the left lobe.
-​ It plays a key role in detoxifying harmful substances,
producing bile, storing glycogen, and synthesizing
proteins.
Right Lobe
-​ Is also involved in blood filtration and is richly
vascularized.
-​ It extends from the midline to the right side of the body
and is situated just below the diaphragm, with the
gallbladder located beneath it.

-​ The left lobe is smaller than the right lobe and is located
on the left side of the body, just beneath the diaphragm.
-​ The falciform ligament separates the left lobe from the
Left Lobe
right lobe which extends toward the left upper abdomen.
-​ It plays a similar role to the right lobe in metabolic
functions, including detoxification and protein synthesis.

-​ The quadrate lobe is a small, square-shaped lobe located

on the underside of the liver, adjacent to the gallbladder.
Quadrate Lobe -​ It lies between the left lobe and the liver's inferior surface.
-​ The quadrate lobe is involved in bile production and
storage, and it has a role in the liver’s metabolic functions.

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 -​ The caudate lobe is another small lobe located on the
posterior side of the liver, near the inferior vena cava.
-​ It is positioned between the left and right lobes.
-​ It is unique in its location and function, with its own
Caudate Lobe
distinct blood supply and venous drainage.
-​ The caudate lobe plays a minor role in the liver’s overall
functions but is important in certain liver diseases and
surgeries.

II.​ What are Liver Lobules?

Give the function of each key components of liver lobules.
LIVER LOBULES KEY COMPONENTS OF
FUNCTION IMAGE
LIVER LOBULES
-​ Liver lobules are the
functional units of the
liver.
-​ Each lobule is shaped
like a hexagon and
consists of layers of -​ Through the central vein, the blood passing
hepatocytes arranged CENTRAL VEIN
through, leaves the liver.
around a central vein.
-​ These lobules are
responsible for all
metabolic and
excretory functions
performed by the liver. -​ Hepatic Artery Branch - is a branch of aorta
-​ Blood flows through that supplies oxygen-rich blood from the
the lobules from the heart to the liver and is also responsible for
outer edges toward the providing approximately 25% of the total
central vein, where it blood supply to the liver.
eventually drains into -​ Portal Vein Branch - supplies nutrient-rich
larger blood vessels for PORTAL TRIADS blood, from the digestive tract as food is
circulation. *Hepatic Artery Branch ingested. This vein is also responsible for
*Portal Vein Branch providing approximately 75% of the total
*Bile Duct blood supply to the liver.
-​ Bile Duct - transports bile produced by the
hepatocytes to the gallbladder for storage
or the duodenum for digestion. Bile duct
facilitates fat digestion, excrete waste such
as bilirubin, regulate bile flow, and protect
the ducts by neutralizing acidity.
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 -​ Represents 80% of the volume of the liver.
-​ Performs the major hepatic functions
HEPATOCYTES
-​ Responsible for the liver’s regenerative
properties.

-​ Cholangiocytes are epithelial cells that lines

the bile ducts, modifying and transporting
bile by secreting bicarbonate and water,
CHOLANGIOCYTES maintaining flow of bile, and protecting the
duct from damages.
-​ They also play a role in immune responses
and repair of bile ducts.

-​ Liver sinusoids are specialized capillaries

that allow the exchange of blood, nutrients,
and waste between hepatocytes and the
SINUSOIDS bloodstream.
-​ They filter blood, absorb nutrients, and
remove toxins, facilitating liver functions
like metabolism and detoxification.

-​ are macrophages that line the sinusoids of

the liver
-​ Has the phagocytic role
KUPFFER CELLS
-​ Kupffer cells are the hepatic macrophage,
engulfing organisms and toxins that flows
through the sinusoids

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 -​ They store Vitamin A in lipid droplets and
regulate extracellular matrix production.
HEPATIC STELLATE CELLS -​ They also play a key role in wound healing
and fibrosis development when activated
during liver injury.

HEPATIC STELLATE CELLS

-​ Is a small perisinusoidal space between the

liver sinusoidal endothelium and
hepatocytes that facilitates the exchange of
nutrients, oxygen, and waste between the
SPACE OF DISSE
blood and hepatocytes.
-​ It also contains stellate cells and collagen
fibers that plays a role in liver storage and
fibrosis during liver injury.

III.​ What are the two most important supporting structures of the liver and give its importance. (2 points each)

TWO MOST IMPORTANT SUPPORTING STRUCTURES OF THE

IMPORTANCE
LIVER
-​ This anchors the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm, providing structural stability
FALCIFORM LIGAMENT
and separating the right and left lobes of the liver.
-​ The hepatic veins and the inferior vena cava provide vital support by draining deoxygenated blood
from the liver and securing the position of the liver against the posterior abdominal wall.
HEPATIC VEINS AND INFERIOR VENA CAVA (IVC)
-​ The attachment of the liver to the inferior vena cava helps maintain the placement of the liver and
facilitates efficient blood flow.

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IV.​ Discuss in 2 or 3 sentences the five major functions of the liver.
FIVE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER DESCRIPTION
-​ The excretory function of the liver involves the processing and excretion of endogenous and
exogenous substances into the bile or urine such as bilirubin which is the major heme waste
EXCRETORY product. By producing bile, it is then secreted into bile ducts, stored in the gallbladder, and
released into the intestine for fat digestion and eliminating wastes. Bilirubin is metabolized further
in the intestine and is excreted as stercobilin in feces or urobilin in urine.
-​ The secretory function of the liver involves producing and secreting bile which is important for the
digestion and absorption of fats. Bile contains bile salts, cholesterol, bilirubin, and phospholipids
SECRETORY
which are synthesized by the hepatocytes. It plays a critical role in the excretion of waste
products, including bilirubin and excess cholesterol into the intestines for excretion.
-​ The metabolism function of the liver involves its key role in regulating carbohydrate, protein, and
lipid metabolism. The liver maintains glucose homeostasis through glycogenesis, glycogenolysis,
METABOLISM and gluconeogenesis, processes amino acids, and synthesizes plasma proteins such as albumin.
Also, the liver metabolizes lipids resulting in lipoproteins and cholesterol and serves as a key site
for hormone metabolism.
-​ The liver functions as a detoxifier by detoxifying harmful substances by metabolizing them into
less toxic forms of excretion. It involves oxidation, reduction, or hydrolysis through enzymes such
DETOXIFICATION
as cytochrome P-450. The detoxification process of the liver enables the removal of toxins, and
drugs through bile or urine.
-​ The liver serves as a storage for essential nutrients and compounds. It stores glycogen for energy,
STORAGE fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Also, it stores iron in the form of ferritin and releases it as
needed for processes such as erythropoiesis.

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 V.​ Diagram Making (30 points)

- DRAW the Flow of Bilirubin Metabolism which includes the following stages: (Digital Drawing is discouraged.)
FLOW OF BILIRUBIN METABOLISM DIAGRAM

HEME BILIRUBIN IN THE SPLEEN

TRANSPORT TO THE LIVER

CONJUGATION IN THE LIVER

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EXCRETION INTO THE BILE

METABOLISM IN THE INTESTINE

EXCRETION
-​ Urinary Pathway
-​ Fecal Pathway

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VI.​ Differentiate unconjugated bilirubin from conjugated bilirubin in terms of the following:
UNCONJUGATED BILIRUBIN (B1) CONJUGATED BILIRUBIN (B2)
SOLUBILITY Water-Insoluble Water-Soluble
TRANSPORT Bound to albumin for transport in the bloodstream Travels freely in the bloodstream without albumin
Formed in the spleen, liver, bone marrow from the breakdown Formed in the liver when unconjugated bilirubin is conjugated with
SITE OF FORMATION
of heme in hemoglobin glucuronic aci by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)
Excreted in bile into the intestines, then metabolized into urobilinogen.
EXCRETION Transported to the liver, hence, it is not secreted directly Some is reabsorbed, and the rest is excreted in feces as stercobilin or as
urobilin in urine
Elevated levels indicate pre-hepatic or hepatic jaundice, such as Elevated levels indicate post-hepatic jaundice such as Biliary
Hemolytic anemia, Gilbert’s syndrome, or Crigler-Najjar obstruction or hepatic jaundice such as hepatitis, Dubin-Johnson
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
syndrome, G-6-PD deficiency, Lucey Driscoll Syndrome, syndrome, Pancreatic (head) cancer, Alcoholic and viral hepatitis,
Hepatocellular disease Biliary atresia, Hepatocellular disease, Septicemia, Rotor syndrome

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