Special Sub-Topic: It's Your Liver Click Here To Play: It's Your Liver

In a healthy adult middle-aged man, 5' 11' tall and 82 kilograms in weight, what would be the approximate weight of his liver?

1.4 kilograms. In terms of weight, the liver is the largest organ in the human body and for the person described in this question, it would average 1.4 kilograms ( approximately 3 pounds). Thirty percent of the cardiac output in one minute passes through the liver. It receives both arterial and venous blood and is often referred to as the 'body's chemical factory'.

When an individual is not eating foods, which circulatory vessel provides two-thirds of the blood supply to the liver?

Hepatic portal vein. The hepatic portal veins drain oxygen-poor, waste-containing, and chemical metabolite-impure, venous blood away from the small intestines, the colon, the stomach, the spleen and the pancreas. During active digestion more blood goes to the intestines. Although the liver has as many as 200 important functions, one of the extremely vital functions involves the removal of toxic substances from the blood.

The liver produces bile which is delivered to the gallbladder for storage until released, to assist in the digestion of fats.Approximately how much bile is produced by the liver every 24 hours?

24 ounces. Within the liver there are cells that produce a thin watery bile which passes down the bile duct to the gallbladder and then empties into the duodenum, near the pancreatic duct. In the gallbladder a mucous fluid is added and the final thickened fluid contains bile salts, cholesterol, proteins, hormones and digestive enzymes. Ingested egg yolks, fats and cholesterol-rich foods stimulate the gallbladder to contract.

Which is NOT a function of the liver?

To convert ammonia into nitrates. The liver removes many waste products from the blood, chemically alters toxic substances into safer chemicals, adds a large number of {substances;} such as cholesterol, triglycerides, carbohydrates, proteins and blood clotting factors. It converts glucose to liver glycogen and also produces sugars from proteins. Ammonia is detoxified by being converted to urea.

What is the name of the condition that occurs if, under certain circumstances, the body is unable to excrete bile into the duodenum and the sclerae of the eyes turn yellow?

Jaundice & Yellow jaundice. The breakdown of hemoglobin in humans results in the formation of a red-yellow substance called, 'bilirubin '. Under normal condition this is removed by the liver. If gallstones form and block the biliary duct, or if there is severe infection of the gallbladder, the bile, debris and bilirubin back up into the liver and blood stream and the patient develops a yellowish pigmentation of the skin, eyes and other mucous membranes. This is called jaundice.

Which of the following forms of viral hepatitis is caused by a defective single-stranded RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus?

Hepatitis D. Hepatitis D is a serious liver disease caused to an incomplete RNA virus It may result in a chronic liver infection or actual scarring and is more serious than hepatitis B. virus. Hepatitis D virus requires hepatitis B virus to replicate and synthesize HBsAg which encapsulates the HDV genome. It is transmitted from an infected individual through blood contamination or sexual contact.

In the United States one of the most common cause of liver cirrhosis is due to which of the following?

Alcoholic liver disease. Liver cirrhosis can be caused by chronic inflammations, toxins, parasitic diseases, inherited metabolic diseases, congestive heart failure, hepatotoxic chemicals, and environmental pollutants. Chronic alcoholism is the most common cause in the U.S. Chronic damage to liver cells leads to replacement of the dead cells with fibrous tissue (scar tissue). Liver cells normally have a great potential to {regenerate;} but in cirrhosis nodules develop and decrease the blood flow through the liver.

Which of the following two forms of viral hepatitis are the most serious in terms of frequency and chronic, medically untreatable liver damage?

Hepatitis C and B. Hepatitis C virus is caused by blood transfusions, IV injection of illegal drugs, chronic kidney dialysis and other blood products. It tends to be chronic and leads to serious liver damage. Hepatitis B is also serious and can lead to lifelong disease and death. It can be prevented by vaccination with HBV vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups.

Among the over-the-counter analgesics paracetamol (a British name), which has been used for relief of pain and fever for 3 decades, is a potentially hepatotoxic drug. What is the generic name ( not the proprietary or trade name) for this medication?

acetaminophen. This is probably the most commonly used analgesic in the United Kingdom. It is the most heavily advertised and used analgesic in the U.S.. The potential for liver damage is increased, if combined with moderate alcohol consumption. It can be used alone or combined into an analgesic compound containing codeine, and dextropropoxyphene. Chronic use or an overdose can cause serious liver damage.

According to a report by the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, {Minnesota;} what is the leading cause of chronic liver damage that qualifies the patient for a liver transplant?

Hepatitis C. The demand and need for liver transplants is increasing very rapidly and primarily due to chronic liver failure due to the hepatitis C virus. As of July, 1999 more than 13,000 patients were on the waiting list for a liver transplant. In the prior year there were less than 5,000 donor livers that became available. The liver cells regenerate very rapidly and thus, one of the important advances involves splitting the available livers. For children only a small section of liver may be adequate for treatment.