VESSELS OF THE LIVER 



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number of thorns growing out on all sides from the sublobular twigs of the tree). On 

 each of these little central veins there is impaled, as it were, a lobule. These little 

 conical lobules, with their -central veins running through them, are so numerous and so 

 closely packed together, that they give rise to the practically solid liver tissue. 



The lobules are surrounded by the venae interlobulares, branches of the portal vein, 

 from which numerous twigs enter the lobule on all sides, and converging, join the central 

 vein (Fig. 940). This runs through the centre of the lobule (Fig. 941, A), and opens 

 at its base into a sublobular vein. The sublobular veins, uniting and growing larger by 

 constant additions, finally form the hepatic veins, which open into the vena cava. 



Hepatic Cells. In the intervals between the branches of the capillaries, running from 

 the interlobular to the central veins (Fig. 940), are placed the polygonal-shaped epithelial, 

 hepatic cells. Between the cells run the ductus biliferi (O.T. bile canaliculi) which, 

 passing out of the lobule (Fig. 941), join the ductus interlobulares, and these uniting, 

 finally end in the hepatic ducts. 



The liver cells are very intimately connected both with the blood capillaries and the 

 radicles of the bile-ducts. From both sets of vessels minute channels pass into the interior 

 of the hepatic cells, forming intracellular canals. The blood plasma is thus brought into 

 very intimate relation with the plasma of the hepatic cells, and the small fine intracellular 

 biliary canaliculi facilitate the secretion of bile by the cells. 



VESSELS OF THE LIVER. 



Like many other glands, the liver presents, as has been seen, a hilum, or slit-like 

 fissure, upon its surface, where vessels are found, and where the ducts emerge. In the 

 liver, the hilum is placed upon the inferior aspect, and is represented by the porta hepatis. 



6th costal cartilage 

 Diaphragm 

 7th costal cartilage 

 Falciform ligament 

 8th costal cartilage 



Gall-bladder 

 9th costal cartilage 

 10th costal cartilage 



Right flexure of colon 



Csecum 



Xiphoid process 



Left flexure of colon 

 Transverse colon 



Position of umbilicus 

 Small intestine 



FIG. 942. THE ABDOMINAL VISCERA, AFTER REMOVAL OF THE OMENTOM MAJUS 

 AND THE LlG. GASTROCOLICUM. 



The blood-vessels here are all afferent, conveying blood to the liver. The blood is 

 conveyed away from the liver by various channels which emerge from its posterior aspect 

 (venae hepaticae) and enter the vena cava inferior, which is partially embedded in the 

 substance of the liver in this region. 



