ANATOMY OF THE LIVER. 



99 



of most other anatomists) is composed according to him, of a 

 plexus of bihary ducts, (see fig. 148,) and a plexus from the 

 portal vein placed on its exterior surface, (see fig. 149,) of 

 branches of the hepatic artery, and of a branch of an hepatic 

 vein, which occupies its centre, (see fig. 150.) Nerves and 

 absorbents, it is also probable, enter into its structure, but they 

 cannot be traced upon it. The plexuses formed by the hepatic 

 ducts in each lobule, may be called the lobular biliary, or 



Fig. 149.* 



secreting biliary plexuses. The ducts forming them being 

 exceedingly minute, and anastomosing very freely with each 

 other, as seen in fig. 148. At their termination, they appear 



* Fig. 149, represents the interlobular branches of the portal vein, and the 

 lobular venous plexuses formed by the intralobular branches of the hepatic 

 veins, a, a. a, Interlobular portal veins contained in the spaces, b, b, b, The 

 interlobular portal veins of the fissures and which with the veins in the spaces, 

 form venous circles round the lobules. This is the appearance which the venous 

 circles present when examined with a common magnifying glass. They are, 

 however, formed by numerous, and not by single branches, as represented in 

 the figure, c, c, c, The lobular portal venous plexuses, the branches of which 

 communicating with each other by intermediate vessels, terminate in the intra- 

 lobular veijis. The circular and ovoid spaces seen between the branches of the 

 plexuses, are occupied by portions of the biliary plexuses, constituting the acini 

 of Malpighi. d, d, d, The intralobular branches of the hepatic veins, in which 

 the vessels of the plexuses terminate. — p. 



