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Related Concept Videos

Liver Physiology01:30

Liver Physiology

The liver, an essential organ in the human body, performs over 200 vital functions that can be broadly categorized into metabolic, hematological, endocrine regulation, and bile production.
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of  70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can also...
Overview of the Heart01:07

Overview of the Heart

The heart, a muscular organ located in the chest, functions as the body's pump, circulating blood through the vascular system. It has four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles below. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body and passes it to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle, which pumps it to the rest of the body.
The heart's structure...
Hepatic Portal System01:21

Hepatic Portal System

The hepatic portal system, a critical part of our circulatory framework, transports nutrient-laden, deoxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver. This ingenious system plays an indispensable role in maintaining our body's metabolic equilibrium.
At its core, the hepatic portal vein is the result of a confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins along with the splenic vein. Each of these veins has a unique role. The superior mesenteric vein is responsible...
Gross Anatomy of the Liver01:17

Gross Anatomy of the Liver

The liver, the largest gland within the human body, is a firm and reddish-brown organ. This wedge-shaped structure weighs approximately 1.5 kg and occupies a significant portion of the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions. It extends more to the right of the body's midline than to the left.
Located under the diaphragm, the liver is almost entirely ensconced within the rib cage, providing it with substantial protection. Except for the superior most bare area, the liver's surface is covered...
Location and Orientation of the Heart01:13

Location and Orientation of the Heart

The human heart, despite its modest size and weight, is an organ of remarkable strength and endurance. Roughly the size of a fist, the heart weighs between 250 and 350 grams and is nestled within the mediastinum, the medial cavity of the thorax. It extends obliquely for about 12 to 14 cm, resting on the superior surface of the diaphragm. The heart is positioned anterior to the vertebral column and posterior to the sternum, with two-thirds of its mass lying to the left of the midsternal line.
Chambers of the Heart01:16

Chambers of the Heart

The human heart is a complex organ made up of four chambers: the right and left atria and the right and left ventricles. These internal chambers are separated by partitions known as the interatrial and interventricular septa. The exterior of the heart features a groove known as the coronary sulcus that demarcates the atria from the ventricles, while the anterior and posterior interventricular sulci distinguish between the two ventricles.
Deoxygenated blood from the body is received in the right...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies
09:51

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies

Published on: January 27, 2023

The heart and the liver.

Søren Møller1, Christine Winkler Dümcke, Aleksander Krag

  • 1Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, 239, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard Alle 30, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. soeren.moeller@hvh.regionh.dk

Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
|February 13, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Heart failure impacts liver function, potentially causing cardiac cirrhosis. Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, a condition in advanced cirrhosis, impairs heart performance and requires treatment focused on the primary heart disease.

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In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion
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In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies
09:51

Human Liver Spheroids from Peripheral Blood for Liver Disease Studies

Published on: January 27, 2023

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion
12:35

In vivo Liver Endocytosis Followed by Purification of Liver Cells by Liver Perfusion

Published on: November 10, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hepatology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiac failure and liver dysfunction are interconnected, with heart failure leading to conditions like cardiac cirrhosis and cardiogenic ischemic hepatitis.
  • Advanced cirrhosis can manifest as cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, characterized by reduced cardiac performance, systolic/diastolic dysfunction, and electrophysiological abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the intricate relationship between cardiac failure and liver dysfunction.
  • To describe cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
  • To review the cardiac implications of interventions like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion and liver transplantation in portal hypertensive patients.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating the cardiac and hepatic interplay.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, including beta-adrenergic receptor signaling and electromechanical coupling.
  • Examination of cardiac stress testing and imaging modalities for cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac failure can cause liver damage, while liver cirrhosis can lead to cirrhotic cardiomyopathy with impaired cardiac function.
  • Common findings in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy include systolic and diastolic dysfunction, electrophysiological abnormalities, and a prolonged QT interval.
  • Procedures like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt insertion and liver transplantation pose risks to the cirrhotic heart, necessitating careful cardiac evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Treatment for cardiac dysfunction in liver disease should target the primary cardiac condition and ensure vital organ perfusion.
  • While no specific therapy for cirrhotic cardiomyopathy exists, supportive care addressing heart failure is crucial.
  • Thorough cardiac assessment, including stress testing and imaging, is vital for cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation due to high perioperative risks.