ae ar arg of the Human Liver. 75 
A few small branches of the hepatic duct are occasionally met 
with, which, however, soon terminate in the “biliary tubules” of 
the parenchyma. 
There are also plexuses of the ducts of the hepatic glands found 
in the capsule of the hepatic veins; the glands belonging to them 
are, for the greater part, simple. 
The lymphatics of this region are very numerous, and form— 
as in the other parts of the capsule of the organ—very extensive 
plexuses. 
Of the nerves I can make no definite statement, although I do 
not entertain any doubt of their presence. 
3. Within the Capsule surrounding the Surface of the Liver. 
— Within the substance of the liver the hepatic artery sends off 
branches of considerable size, which penetrate to the surface. Here 
they divide into smaller branches—about ;35 of an inch in dia- 
meter, which, anastomosing with each other, form an extensive 
network of large meshes. From this network smaller branches 
arise to form a set of anastomoses of smaller meshes, which, in their 
turn, give origin to still smaller branches, whose subdivisions, finally, 
terminate in the capillaries of the parenchyma. 
Branches of the portal vein also penetrate to the surface of the 
liver, where they—without forming any anastomoses—soon sub- 
divide, to terminate, like those of the artery, in the capillary net- 
work of the parenchyma. 
The termination of the branches of the hepatic artery and portal 
vein on the surface of the liver in the capillary network of the 
parenchyma, can readily be seen when well injected. Those of the 
artery have been described by some anatomists, as terminating in a 
capillary pleaus of large meshes from which the branches of the 
vein arise. Upon a superficial examination, it is apparently true 
that the termination of the artery is a broken network of large 
capillaries; by minute examination, however, it will be seen that 
this is no complete network, but only the transition of the ultimate 
branches of the artery into the capillaries of the parenchyma. Even 
if this were not proved to be the case, it would be difficult to believe 
that one vessel should terminate in another, when the current of the 
blood in both runs in the same direction. 
Upon the closest examination of the best injected specimens, I 
have not been able to detect the shghtest trace of branches, sent 
from the hepatic artery to the peritoneal covering. As, however, 
the peritoneum is not properly a component part of the liver, there 
is no reason for expecting that it should be nourished by the hepatic 
artery. It is very easily separated from the capsule. 
Here and there, in the capsule, we meet with small branches of 
the hepatic duct, which, however, soon terminate in the “ biliary 
tubules” of the parenchyma, I have seen such branches of con- 
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