Exam 1: Liver Pathophysiology
What are the major functions of the liver? - Answer Metabolism & Storage of:
-Fat
-CHO
-Protein
-vitamins
-minerals
Blood Volume Reservoir
-Distends and compresses to alter circulating blood volume
Blood Filter
-helps purify blood by filtering (Kupffer cells) it
Produces Clotting Factors
-including prothrombin and fibrinogen
Drug metabolism and detoxification
-For detoxifying and excreting medications.
What kind of liver cells filter the blood? - Answer Kupffer cells
What vitamin is needed to make clotting factors like fibrinogen/thrombin? - Answer
Vitamin K
Fat Soluble Vitamins - Answer The FAT cat is in the A, D, E, K.
Water Soluble Vitamins - Answer The watercress tastes Bitter and Citrusy.
What are the various liver function tests? - Answer Liver Enzymes
-AST
-ALT
-Alk Phos
Bilirubin
-conjugated
-unconjugated
Serum Ammonia (NH3)
Serum Protein (total)
Serum Albumin
, Prothrombin time (PT)
What does ALT stand for? - Answer alanine aminotransferase
What does AST stand for? - Answer aspartate aminotransferase
What does Alk Phos stand for? - Answer alkaline phosphatase
What will happen to the levels of ALT and AST with liver impairment? - Answer Increase
What will happen to the level of Alk Phos with liver impairment? - Answer Increase, due
to organ damage.
What is bilirubin? - Answer A yellow pigment that is a byproduct of RBC breakdown by
the liver.
-can be conjugated or unconjugated
Total: 0.1-1.2
What will happen to bilirubin levels with liver impairment? - Answer Increase, because
the liver is not able to conjugate the bilirubin---which allows them to be excreted in the
kidneys---so it starts to build up in the blood.
What is the difference between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin? - Answer
Conjugated = soluble in water, so it can be excreted by the kidneys
Unconjugated: Insoluble in water
Normal lifespan of an RBC - Answer 120 days
What will happen to serum ammonia levels with liver impairment? - Answer Increase,
usually the liver detoxifies ammonia from the blood. If it can't, levels build-up and the
patient will start to have mental status changes.
Where does ammonia come from in the blood? - Answer Ammonia is produced in the
intestinal tract as a byproduct of protein breakdown by the bacteria there.
How does the liver remove ammonia from the body? - Answer Your body treats
ammonia as a waste product, and gets rid of it through the liver.
It can be added to other chemicals to form an amino acid called glutamine. It can also
be used to form a chemical compound called urea. Your bloodstream moves the urea to
your kidneys, where it is eliminated in your urine
What are the major functions of the liver? - Answer Metabolism & Storage of:
-Fat
-CHO
-Protein
-vitamins
-minerals
Blood Volume Reservoir
-Distends and compresses to alter circulating blood volume
Blood Filter
-helps purify blood by filtering (Kupffer cells) it
Produces Clotting Factors
-including prothrombin and fibrinogen
Drug metabolism and detoxification
-For detoxifying and excreting medications.
What kind of liver cells filter the blood? - Answer Kupffer cells
What vitamin is needed to make clotting factors like fibrinogen/thrombin? - Answer
Vitamin K
Fat Soluble Vitamins - Answer The FAT cat is in the A, D, E, K.
Water Soluble Vitamins - Answer The watercress tastes Bitter and Citrusy.
What are the various liver function tests? - Answer Liver Enzymes
-AST
-ALT
-Alk Phos
Bilirubin
-conjugated
-unconjugated
Serum Ammonia (NH3)
Serum Protein (total)
Serum Albumin
, Prothrombin time (PT)
What does ALT stand for? - Answer alanine aminotransferase
What does AST stand for? - Answer aspartate aminotransferase
What does Alk Phos stand for? - Answer alkaline phosphatase
What will happen to the levels of ALT and AST with liver impairment? - Answer Increase
What will happen to the level of Alk Phos with liver impairment? - Answer Increase, due
to organ damage.
What is bilirubin? - Answer A yellow pigment that is a byproduct of RBC breakdown by
the liver.
-can be conjugated or unconjugated
Total: 0.1-1.2
What will happen to bilirubin levels with liver impairment? - Answer Increase, because
the liver is not able to conjugate the bilirubin---which allows them to be excreted in the
kidneys---so it starts to build up in the blood.
What is the difference between conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin? - Answer
Conjugated = soluble in water, so it can be excreted by the kidneys
Unconjugated: Insoluble in water
Normal lifespan of an RBC - Answer 120 days
What will happen to serum ammonia levels with liver impairment? - Answer Increase,
usually the liver detoxifies ammonia from the blood. If it can't, levels build-up and the
patient will start to have mental status changes.
Where does ammonia come from in the blood? - Answer Ammonia is produced in the
intestinal tract as a byproduct of protein breakdown by the bacteria there.
How does the liver remove ammonia from the body? - Answer Your body treats
ammonia as a waste product, and gets rid of it through the liver.
It can be added to other chemicals to form an amino acid called glutamine. It can also
be used to form a chemical compound called urea. Your bloodstream moves the urea to
your kidneys, where it is eliminated in your urine
