Title

How do you spell liver?

Instructional guide

This activity is designed to reinforce principles of liver structure and function as part of a veterinary physiology course.

It could be adapted for human liver structure and function or for an introduction to clinical pathology discussions.

Intended grade level

Veterinary students

This unit is designed to follow introductory material on

• liver function and dysfunction
  • focus on nutrient and drug metabolism, energy levels, protein production
• tests of dysfunction
  • aminotransferase release
  • changes in liver production of proteins, clotting factors, etc as well as upregulation of enzymes due to cholestasis
  • clinical signs related to low protein, changes in toxin metabolism and decreased clotting factors

Student learning objectives

• List clinically important functions of the liver
• Identify and explain signs of liver dysfunction
• Interpret liver diagnostic tests
• Predict liver function test results
• Shock and amaze later instructors with ability to utilize test results

Assessment

Cases (formative)

Format

This session starts with a general review and then moves into case interpretation. The general review is designed to retrieve the basic information. More cases are presented than can be reviewed in an hour; students can pick the cases that most appeal to their small group.

Space needed

This activity is designed to be done in a flat classroom with students in small groups. It can be done via online conferencing tool or in a standard classroom as long as students can talk in a small group.

Estimated duration

60-90 minutes

Materials needed

Internet access

Outline

• Topic review- a series of questions with feedback
• Cases – interactive cases
• Knowledge check- self -assessment

Learning resources

• Liver songs playlist
• Student guide

Common misconceptions and challenge points

• Sorting through the multiple functions of the liver is challenging
• Sorting through the multitude of tests and acronyms is challenging
  • Students struggle with ALP being upregulated and produced rather than released
• Many clinical disease terms are new (ascites, edema, etc) but can be readily explored