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Quiz about Is Life Worth Living It depends on the Liver

Is Life Worth Living? - It depends on the Liver Quiz

Test yourself on the structure and functions of the human liver. Be warned - this quiz starts fairly simple, but it gets quite technical towards the end.

A multiple-choice quiz by jamesf. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
jamesf

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
268,263

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2021

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where, in the human body, is the liver? Hint

In the abdomen, towards the left hand side.

In the thorax, towards the left hand side.

In the thorax, towards the right hand side.

In the abdomen, towards the right hand side.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Most of the functions of the liver are carried out by one type of cell (making up the greater part of liver tissue). What are these liver cells called? Hint

lymphocytes

hepatocytes

Kupffer cells

Phloem cells

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Question 3 of 10

3. The main liver cells are arranged in chains, or cords, forming lobules around a central vein. What is the name of this central vein? Hint

the central vein

the portal vein

the hepatic portal vein

the renal vein

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Question 4 of 10

4. The liver secretes bile, containing bile salts, into the small intestine. What is the function of the bile salts? Hint

They digest starch.

They lower the pH of the small intestine, for enzyme action.

They emulsify fats.

They digest proteins.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Bile contains bile pigments. What is the significance of the bile pigments? Hint

They contain excreted waste cholesterol.

They carry oxygen into the small intestine.

They help in the digestion of lipids.

They are the excreted waste products of the breakdown of red blood cells.

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Question 6 of 10

6. The liver stores excess carbohydrate as polysaccharide. What is the name of this polysaccharide energy store? Hint

starch

fat

glucose

glycogen

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Question 7 of 10

7. The liver is able to convert excess amino-acids (from protein in the diet) into carbohydrate. What is the waste product of this process? Hint

sulphuric acid

urea

oxygen

carbon dioxide

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these vitamins is NOT normally stored in large amounts in the liver? Hint

vitamin D

vitamin A

vitamin C

vitamin B12

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Question 9 of 10

9. What is unusual about the blood supply to the liver? Hint

The liver receives only deoxygenated blood.

The liver receives more blood than all the other body organs put together.

Blood enters the liver in two quite different vessels.

Blood enters the liver directly from the lungs without passing through the heart in between.

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Question 10 of 10

10. The liver removes alcohol (ethanol) from the blood, and metabolises it. What is produced from the metabolised ethanol? Hint

acetate and then ethanal

bile and then glycocholate

glycocholate and then bile

ethanal and then acetate

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where, in the human body, is the liver?

Answer: In the abdomen, towards the right hand side.

The liver is tucked just below the rib cage, towards the right hand side. The stomach is more towards the left.

2. Most of the functions of the liver are carried out by one type of cell (making up the greater part of liver tissue). What are these liver cells called?

Answer: hepatocytes

Although the liver has many different functions, these are nearly all carried out by the hepatocytes. Kupffer cells are also found in the liver, but in much smaller numbers - they break down and recycle old red blood cells. Lymphocytes are white blood cells. Phloem cells are found in plants (they are transport cells for sugar and other organic nutrients).

3. The main liver cells are arranged in chains, or cords, forming lobules around a central vein. What is the name of this central vein?

Answer: the central vein

The central vein is a branch of the hepatic vein (into which it leads). It is also known as the intralobular vein.

4. The liver secretes bile, containing bile salts, into the small intestine. What is the function of the bile salts?

Answer: They emulsify fats.

The bile salts (sodium glycocholate and sodium taurocholate) break down (emulsify) fats into smaller droplets that are easier to digest. The bile salts are also alkaline - they raise the pH - and this assists enzyme action.

5. Bile contains bile pigments. What is the significance of the bile pigments?

Answer: They are the excreted waste products of the breakdown of red blood cells.

The bile pigments - bilirubin (yellow) and biliverdin (green)- combine to form a yellowish-brown colour (which colours the faeces). Jaundice is caused by accumulation of these pigments in the blood (for example because of a blockage in the bile duct).

The yellowish-brown colour of a bruise is also caused by these pigments, which may be released due to bleeding and destruction of red cells under the skin.

6. The liver stores excess carbohydrate as polysaccharide. What is the name of this polysaccharide energy store?

Answer: glycogen

Glycogen is a polymer of glucose units. Under the influence of insulin, the liver converts glucose to glycogen. With the electron microscope, granules of glycogen can be seen in the cytoplasm of liver cells. Fat is not a polysaccharide.

7. The liver is able to convert excess amino-acids (from protein in the diet) into carbohydrate. What is the waste product of this process?

Answer: urea

Excess amino-acids are deaminated, to produce keto-acids and ammonia. The keto-acids can then be changed into sugar and/or used for energy. The ammonia is converted (in the ornithine cycle) to urea and then excreted by the kidneys.

8. Which of these vitamins is NOT normally stored in large amounts in the liver?

Answer: vitamin C

As well as storing carbohydrate, the liver contains stores of vitamins A, B12, D, E, K and folic acid. Liver cells also store iron, potassium and other minerals.

9. What is unusual about the blood supply to the liver?

Answer: Blood enters the liver in two quite different vessels.

The liver receives oxygenated blood through the hepatic artery, in a similar way to all other organs in the systemic circulation. But it also receives blood from the hepatic portal vein - this contains absorbed nutrients from the gut, which can be assimilated in the liver.

10. The liver removes alcohol (ethanol) from the blood, and metabolises it. What is produced from the metabolised ethanol?

Answer: ethanal and then acetate

Most of the ethanol is first converted to ethanal (acetaldehyde) by the enzyme ethanol dehydrogenase. Ethanal then enters the mitochondria, and is converted to acetate - and then to acetyl co-enzyme A for use in respiration. So, eventually, the alcohol becomes carbon dioxide and water.

Source: Author jamesf

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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