The classic liver lobule is enveloped by a limiting plate of hepatocytes, surrounded by various vessels embedded in connective tissue. The blood flows from the periphery via the sinusoids into the central vein (violet arrow). The
bile flows in the opposite direction
(green arrow).
Which way does bile flow?
When the liver cells secrete bile, it is collected by a system of ducts that flow from the liver through
the right and left hepatic ducts
. These ducts ultimately drain into the common hepatic duct. The common hepatic duct then joins with the cystic duct from the gallbladder to form the common bile duct.
Is the bile duct on the left or right?
Extrahepatic ducts: The extrahepatic ducts begin as two parts,
one on the right of the liver and the other on the left
. As they descend from the liver, they unite to form the common hepatic duct. This runs directly toward the small intestine.
How does a liver lobule work?
Each lobule is made up of numerous liver cells, called hepatocytes, that line up in radiating rows. Between each row are sinusoids. These small blood vessels
diffuse oxygen and nutrients
through their capillary walls into the liver cells.
What drains bile from the right lobe of the liver?
Structure. The common hepatic duct is the first part of the biliary tract. It is formed by the convergence of the
right hepatic duct
(which drains bile from the right functional lobe of the liver) and the left hepatic duct (which drains bile from the left functional lobe of the liver).
What causes bile release?
Bile is produced in your liver and stored in your gallbladder.
Eating a meal that contains even a small amount of fat signals your gallbladder
to release bile, which flows through a small tube into the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum).
Where does bile go after leaving the liver?
Bile flows out of the liver through the left and right hepatic ducts, which come together to form the
common hepatic duct
. This duct then joins with a duct connected to the gallbladder, called the cystic duct, to form the common bile duct.
What does a blocked bile duct feel like?
People with bile duct obstruction also often experience:
itching
.
abdominal pain
, usually in the upper right side. fever or night sweats.
Is a blocked bile duct an emergency?
If something is blocking the bile duct,
bile can back up into
the liver. This can cause jaundice, a condition in which the skin and white of the eyes become yellow. The bile duct might become infected and require emergency surgery if the stone or blockage is not removed.
Where is the common bile duct located in the body?
A tube that carries
bile from the liver and the gallbladder through the pancreas and into the duodenum (the upper part of the small intestine)
. It is formed where the ducts from the liver and gallbladder are joined. It is part of the biliary duct system.
Are arranged within a lobule of the liver?
Liver lobules are collections of hepatocytes in a hexagonal shape with the center being a central vein. Within the lobules, the hepatocytes are
arranged in cords
, and in between the cords is a vascular space with a thin fenestrated endothelium and a discontinuous membrane called a sinusoid.
What organs are attached to the liver?
The liver has two large sections, called the right and the left lobes.
The gallbladder sits
under the liver, along with parts of the pancreas and intestines. The liver and these organs work together to digest, absorb, and process food.
What brings fluid into a lobule of the liver?
Blood enters into the liver lobules via
the hepatic artery
, which then forms hepatic sinusoids that drain into the central vein in the centrilobular region of the liver (also called zone 3).
Which of the following is the function of bile in the liver?
Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile
helps with digestion
. It breaks down fats into fatty acids, which can be taken into the body by the digestive tract.
Is the gallbladder below the liver?
The gallbladder is a small pouch that
sits just under the liver
. The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver.
Does blood pass through the liver?
All of the blood leaving the stomach and intestines passes through the liver
. The liver processes this blood. It breaks down, balances, and creates the nutrients. It also breaks down medicines into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body.
