The veins draining most organs carry blood directly to the heart. However, the veins and lymph vessels that drain the small intestine empty into a vein called the hepatic portal vein that carries the blood directly to the liver. What is the physiological significance of this anatomical arrangement?
a. The arrangement enables the liver to efficiently process nutrient molecules, such as converting excess glucose into glycogen for storage.
b. Insulin can be secreted from liver cells in direct proportion to fuel molecules absorbed in the small intestine.
c. Starch and glycogen molecules absorbed from the intestine can be broken down to glucose in the liver.
d. Ghrelin secretion by liver cells can be effectively suppressed following a meal.
2007-03-04
08:24:39
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4 answers
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Science & Mathematics
➔ Biology