OF THE BILE. 237 



deceived Malpighi into the belief that they were glan- 

 dular acini, hexagonal, hollow, and secretory.* 



375. From these glomerules arise the pori biliarii 

 very delicate ducts, secreting the bile from the blood, 

 and discharging it from the liver through the common 

 hepatic duct, which is formed from their union. 



376. It has been disputed whether the bile is pro- 

 duced from arterial or venous blood. 



Although the former opinionf is countenanced by the 

 analogy of the other secretions which depend upon 

 arterial blood, nevertheless more accurate investiga- 

 tion proves that the greater part, if not the whole, of 

 the biliary secretion is venous. 



With respect to arguments derived from analogy, the 

 vena portae, resembling arteries in its distribution, may 

 likewise bear a resemblance to them in function. 

 Besides, the liver is analogous to the lungs, in 

 which the great, pulmonary vessels are intended for 

 their function and the bronchial arteries for their nou- 

 rishment; and if we are not greatly mistaken, the use 

 of the hepatic artery is similar. We would, however, 

 by no means completely deny its importance in the 

 secretion of bile, but must regard it as inconsiderable, 

 adventitious, and not well established. (A) 



377. The bile flows slowly and regularly along the 

 hepatic duct. The greater portion runs constantly 

 through the ductus commimis choledochus into the 

 duodenum, but some passes from the hepatic into the 

 cystic duct, and is received by the gall-bladder, where 



* De viscerum structura. p. ii. Lond. 1 669. 



t This has lately found an advocate in Rich. Powel, On the Bile and its 

 Diseases. Lond. 1801. 8vo. 



