474 LIVEI*. [CHAP, xxxin. 



network. It has long been a question whether the cells lie 

 amongst these capillary vessels, or are enclosed in a basement 



Fig. 226. 



Section of horse's liver, at right angles to branches of the hepatic vein, showing the cells forming 

 lines radiating from the centre towards the circumference of the lobules, from a preparation of Dr. 

 Beale's. 



membrane, as we should expect from the analogy of other glandular 

 organs. It has been admitted by all who have examined the liver 

 carefully, that in sections made in a particular direction, the cells 

 are seen to form lines which radiate from the centre towards the 

 circumference of the lobule; these lines being connected with 

 oblique or transverse branches. Such an appearance is not pre- 

 sented in every section, but only in those made exactly at right 

 angles, with the small twig of the hepatic vein. This is well seen 

 in Fig. 226. The cells are described by Kolliker and others, as 

 being placed end to end, forming solid cylinders, but not invested 

 with basement membrane. Usually there is only room for one 

 row of cells ; but in some situations, two or three may be seen 

 between two capillary vessels. Dr. Handfield Jones has been led 

 by his researches to adopt the same conclusion with regard to the 

 arrangement of the liver cells, and Dr. Carpenter has expressed 

 himself in favour of a similar view. 



On the other hand, Retzius, Leidy, and some other observers, 

 advocate the presence of a tubular basement membrane, in which 

 the cells lie, and which is continuous with the hepatic ducts. 



