General Anatomy · Digestive System · Hard
Hepatocyte
Meaning: The main functional cell of the liver, responsible for metabolism, detoxification and producing bile and proteins.
In practice: Paracetamol overdose can cause widespread hepatocyte death, leading to acute liver failure.
Word parts
- hepat- means liver
- -cyte means a cell
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related general anatomy words.
Which word means: A small airway branching off a bronchus, without cartilage, leading towards the air sacs.
Answer: Bronchiole
Which word means: The raised projection at the centre of the breast through which milk is delivered.
Answer: Nipple
Words like hepatocyte come up in the daily game
One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.