STRUCTURE OF THE PANCREAS 



157 



FIG. 190. LOBULE OF RABBIT'S LIVER, VESSELS AND BILE-DUCTS INJECTED. 



(Cadiat.) 



a, central vein ; 6, 6, peripheral or interlobular veins ; c, interlobular bile-duct. 



THE PANCREAS. 



The pancreas is a tubulo-racemose gland, resembling the salivary 

 glands, so far as its general structure is concerned, but differing from 

 them in the fact that the alveoli, in place of being saccular, are longer 

 and more tubular in character (fig. 191 ). Moreover, the connective tissue 

 of the gland is somewhat looser, and there occur in it at intervals 

 small groups of epithelium-like cells, which are supplied with a close 

 network of convoluted capillary vessels ; their function is unknown, 

 but their presence is very characteristic of the pancreas. 



The cells which line the alveoli are columnar or polyhedral in 

 shape. When examined in the fresh condition, or in osmic prepara- 



