THE HEPATIC CELLS. 



391 



Kieman j?rt.?.?/;r congestion. In what is considered an active state of hepatic 

 congestion, the dark colour extends to the portal system, across the interlobular 

 fissures, leaving intermediate spaces, which remain as iiTegular pale spots : this 

 state occurs especially in diseases of the heart. "When, on the other hand, the 

 portal system is congested, which is rare, and occui's chiefly in childi-en, the 

 margins of the lobules are dark, and their centres pale. 



The Hepatic Cells. — The interstices between the blood-vessels are, 

 as before said, almost entirely filled by the hepatic cells. These 

 are of a compressed spheroidal or polyhedral form, having a mean dia- 



meter of from 



sioth of 



an inch. They possess no cell 



Fi?. 279. 



jth to 

 membrane. Their sub- 

 stance appears granular 

 and of a faint yellowish 

 tinge, and they contain 

 each a clear round nucleus, 

 within which again are one 

 or two nucleoli. Not un fre- 

 quently two nuclei are to 

 be found in a cell ; and, on 

 the other hand, it is stated 

 that some of the cells may 

 be altogether djvoid of 

 nuclei. In many cases the 

 cells have larger and 

 smaller fat-globules in 

 their interior, which may 

 conceal the nucleus, and 

 the amyloid matter pro- 

 duced by the liver has also 

 been recognised in the 

 cells. Wlien isolated in an 

 indifferent fluid they are 

 said to exhibit slow changes 

 of form. Moreover, my- 

 osin has been detected in 

 them. The liver-cells are 

 packed between and around 

 the vessels, and in sections 



made at right angles to the intralobular veins, appear as if radiating 

 from the centre of the lobules towards their circumference. They 

 form a continuous network, or spongework (fig. 279), the more obvious 

 openings in which are the spaces occupied by the blood-capillaries. 

 The walls of the latter are not, as at first sight they appear to be, im- 

 mediately in contact with the liver cells, but are separated ft-om them by 

 a delicate membrane composed of flattened cells ; the space between 

 this membrane and the capillary wall serves for the passage of lymph 

 (MacGillavry). 



The hepatic cells may be washed away from thin sections, and then the network 

 of blood-capillaries is brought more clearly into view ; and likewise, according to 

 Henle, nan-ow bands, which he regards as fonned of connective tissue, are to be 

 seen crossing the intervals : some have regarded them as the network of the 

 minute bile passages to be immediately described. 



Commencement of the Ducts. — The larger bile-ducts accompany, 



Fig. 279. — A Small Portion op a Lobule op the 

 Human Liver highly magnified, showing the 

 Hepatic Cells in connection and the Capil- 

 lary Spaces between them (from KoUiker). 450 

 Diameters. 



