It's Your Liver Trivia Quiz

Answer: 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'.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: Alcoholic liver disease

Liver cirrhosis can be caused by chronic inflammations, toxins, parasitic diseases, inherited metabolic diseases, congestive heart failure, hepato-toxic chemicals, and environmental pollutants. Chronic alcoholism is one of the most common causes in the U.S. along with chronic hepatitis. 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answer: 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.