The hepatic artery comes off the main artery that carries blood away from the heart. Name the main artery that carries blood to the hepatic artery.
Suggest one benefit of having wide gaps between the endothelial cells of the sinusoid, as shown in Fig. 3.1.
Besides removing bacteria in the blood within the sinusoid, Kupffer cells can also eliminate old or damaged red blood cells. Describe the mode of action of a Kupffer cell in removing and breaking down a damaged red blood cell.
Describe the mode of action of a Kupffer cell in removing and breaking down a damaged red blood cell.
Describe the visible evidence in Fig. 3.2, apart from the presence of a peroxisome, that shows some of the functions of a hepatocyte. Add labels to Fig. 3.2 to show the position of any cell structures, if they are not already labelled, that support your evidence.
The mitochondria in Fig. 3.2 are larger than the peroxisome. State one other visible difference in Fig. 3.2 between a peroxisome and a mitochondrion.
Some of the enzymes used within mitochondria can be synthesised by the organelle. Peroxisomes cannot synthesise any of the enzymes that they contain. Suggest why a mitochondrion can synthesise enzymes, but a peroxisome cannot synthesise enzymes.
One of the enzymes found in peroxisomes is catalase. This enzyme catalyses the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to harmless products. Suggest why it is useful to the cell for this reaction to happen within peroxisomes.