158 



ELEMENTARY PHYSIOLOGY 



to form small biliary ducts, which by their further union form the 



two larger ducts. One of 

 these conveys the bile 

 from the left lobe, and 

 the other from the right, 

 while both unite to form 

 the hepatic duct. The 

 gall-bladder is connected 

 with this tube by a duct 

 of its own, called the 

 cystic duct (Gr. kustis, a 

 bladder), and these two 

 unite into the common 

 duct, which leads direct 

 to the duodenum. 



The gall-bladder is a 

 pear-shaped bag, situated 

 on the under surface of 

 the liver. It is supported 

 by the peritoneum, which 

 passes below it ; and its 

 broader end projects be- 

 yond the front margin 

 of the liver. The cystic 

 duct is connected with 

 the narrow end. 



The most important 

 function of the liver is 

 the secretion of the bile. 

 And this single function 

 serves a twofold purpose ; 

 for, not only is the bile 

 turned to account as a 

 powerful digestive fluid, 

 but its separation from 

 the blood is a means of 

 the removal of an excess 

 of carbon and hydrogen 

 which has accumulated 

 in that fluid ; these ele- 

 ments being found largely 

 Fig. i 47 .-Stomach Liver, Pancreas, and in some * f Ae ^ 



,/, stomach;/, pylorus^duodenum^liver^gall- P UndS Carried ff ^ the 

 bladder; fla, pancreas ; sp, spleen. The stomach and bile. 



'he gIn r bkJde b r ? en "*** * "*"* *" pancreas and The secretion of the 



Fig. 146. Longitudinal Section of an 

 Hepatic Artery. Magnified about 5 

 diameters. 



H, hepatic vein ; a, portion of the canal _from which 

 the vein has been removed ; b, openings of the 

 intralobular veins, situated in the centres of the 

 lobules. 



