CHAPTEE VIII. 



PHYSIOLOGICAL ANATOMY OF THE LFVEK. 



Coverings and ligaments of the liver Capsule of Glisson Lobules Branches 

 .of the portal vein, the hepatic artery and duct Interlobular vessels Lob- 

 ular vessels Origin and course of the hepatic veins Interlobular veins 

 Structure of a lobule of the liver Hepatic cells Arrangement of the 

 bile-ducts in the lobules Anatomy of the excretory biliary passages 

 Vasa aberrantia Gall-bladder Hepatic, cystic, and common ducts 

 Nerves and lymphatics of the liver Mechanism of the secretion and dis- 

 charge of bile Secretion of bile from venous or arterial blood Quantity 

 of bile Variations in the flow of the bile Influence of the nervous sys- 

 tem on the secretion of bile Discharge of bile from the gall-bladder. 



THE liver, by far the largest gland in the body, is now 

 known to have several entirely distinct functions ; and one 

 of the most important of these has already been fully con- 

 sidered, in connection with digestion. 1 It is true that we 

 know very little with regard to the exact office of the bile in 

 digestion, but that this function is essential to life, there can 

 be no doubt. "We have, however, more positive information 

 with regard to the excrementitious function of the liver and 

 the changes which the blood undergoes in passing through 

 its substance; and the study of these functions is closely 

 connected with the anatomy of the liver and the chemical 

 constitution of the bile. 



Physiological Anatomy of the Liver. 



It is unnecessary, in this connection, to dwell upon the 

 ordinary descriptive anatomy of the liver. It is sufficient 



1 See vol. ii., Digestion, p. 360, et seq. 



