228 



HISTOLOGY. 



from elastic elements. The meshes of the reticular tissue are drained by 

 the lymphatic vessels of the capsule and interlobular tissue; the reticular 

 tissue itself contains no vessels. Unlike other reticular tissue, that of the 

 lobules is free from cells in its meshes. In the embryo, however, it con- 

 tains large numbers of erythroblasts and is for a time an important source 

 of blood corpuscles. A few nerve fibers which terminate upon the hepatic 

 cells, have been found in it. 



The endothelium of the sinusoids is easily penetrated by injections, 

 which spread in the reticular tissue, and even enter the hepatic cells. The 



Branch of portal 

 vein. 



Small interlobu- 

 lar bile-duct, 

 continuing in 

 bile capillaries. 



Large interlobu- 

 lar bile-duct. 



Branch of hepat- 

 ic artery. 



Bile capillaries. " 



Wall of the central vein. 

 FIG. 260. GOLGI PREPARATION OF THE LIVER OP A DOG. X 240. 



blood vessels are not supposed to extend into the cells; the injection mass 

 probably invades the trophospongium or other intracellular canals. In 

 chloride of gold preparations the endothelial cells of the sinusoids appear 

 stellate and have been mistaken for connective (reticular) tissue cells. 

 They are phagocytic. Often they are called the stellate cells [of Kupffer]. 

 The ducts of the liver. The ducts in an island of interlobular con- 

 nective tissue drain the bile capillaries from all the surrounding lobules. 

 If lines are drawn connecting the central veins with one another they will 

 bound areas (structural units] comparable with the lobules of other organs: 



