Which statement best describes hepatic circulation?

Which statement best describes hepatic circulation?

• A. It maintains blood glucose, stores glycogen, and detoxifies the blood.
• B. It oxygenates blood for systemic circulation.
• C. It filters lymph from tissues.
• D. It regulates heart rate via autonomic nerves.

Answer: (A)

Hepatic circulation centers on the liver’s processing of blood. Blood from the digestive tract arrives via the portal vein and is processed by hepatocytes, which manage nutrients, store energy, and detoxify substances before the blood enters general circulation. The statement reflects key liver roles: maintaining blood glucose by storing glycogen (glycogenesis) and releasing glucose when needed (glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis), storing glycogen, and detoxifying the blood by metabolizing drugs, toxins, and breakdown products. These functions are specific to the liver’s metabolism and detoxification activities. The other ideas describe systems outside the liver: oxygenating blood for systemic circulation is the job of the heart and lungs; filtering lymph is a lymphatic function; and regulating heart rate via autonomic nerves involves cardiac control.

Hepatic circulation centers on the liver’s processing of blood. Blood from the digestive tract arrives via the portal vein and is processed by hepatocytes, which manage nutrients, store energy, and detoxify substances before the blood enters general circulation. The statement reflects key liver roles: maintaining blood glucose by storing glycogen (glycogenesis) and releasing glucose when needed (glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis), storing glycogen, and detoxifying the blood by metabolizing drugs, toxins, and breakdown products. These functions are specific to the liver’s metabolism and detoxification activities.

The other ideas describe systems outside the liver: oxygenating blood for systemic circulation is the job of the heart and lungs; filtering lymph is a lymphatic function; and regulating heart rate via autonomic nerves involves cardiac control.