THE LIVER AND BILIARY APPARATUS. 189 



The liver-cells. The liver-cells are found lying within the 

 meshes of the capillary network of the lobules. If we bear in 

 mind the shape of the intralobular capillary reticulum, the 

 arrangement of the hepatic cells will be readily understood. 

 The meshes of the capillary network have about the same 

 diameter as the capillaries themselves. Hence it follows that 

 the cells which occupy these meshes must also have the appear- 

 ance of a reticulum. But inasmuch as the vascular meshes 

 contain two or three liver-cells, it is evident that two neighbor- 

 ing capillaries must be separated from each other by at least 

 one liver-cell. Hence, in sections where the capillaries are cut 

 transversely, their circular openings will be surrounded by a 

 ring of liver-cells, or a circle of capillaries will enclose a mass 

 of glandular substance. In sections which cut the central 

 vein transversely the radiating capillaries will enclose radiat- 

 ing rows of liver-cells. (See Fig. 81.) These are either joined 

 to one another by the intervention of other liver-cells, or 

 they are separated from one another by transverse capillary 

 branches. 



On the other hand, in sections where the central vein is cut 

 lengthwise, the (nearly) parallel intralobular capillaries will ap- 

 pear separated from one another by correspond- 

 ing rows of liver-cells. The glandular substance 

 of the liver would then be composed of small, 

 solid columns or rows of cells united to each 

 other by other cells, thus forming one connected 

 mass, and containing within its meshes the cap- 

 illary network. In the fresh state the liver-cells 

 appear as spherical or egg-shaped bodies, usu- 

 ally presenting facets. They are somewhat flat- 

 tened by being pressed against one another (Fig. 

 83). Corpuscles possessing processes are some- 



times found. &* nucleus;' ft, with 



double nucleus. Prey. 



Hie hepatic cells are about 0.0130.02 mm. 

 in diameter, and possess one or two nuclei, 1 which are gener- 

 ally spherical, although they occasionally appear to be flat- 

 tened ; the diameter is 0.0060.007 mm. The liver-cells do 

 not possess any membrana propria, but a hardened boundary 

 layer seems to exist in its place. It is probable also that the 



1 Occasionally three or five nuclei, especially in young subjects (Beale). 



