In viral hepatitis, what happens to liver cells?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

In viral hepatitis, liver cells are damaged or destroyed by the hepatitis virus infecting hepatocytes and by the immune response that targets those infected cells. The virus replicates inside hepatocytes, causing direct injury, and the immune system’s attack on infected cells adds to hepatocellular death. This cell loss with inflammation is what drives the clinical and biochemical signs of hepatitis. Replacing liver cells with fat is not the defining process here, and the cells are not simply multiplying or remaining unaffected.