3 io 



THE STRUCTURE OF THE LIVER. 



FIG. 117. A, Liver-cell, in the 

 state of hunger; 2, filled with 

 masses of glycogen; 3, sur- 

 rounded by bile-capillaries. 



bundles in the main ducts (longitudinal and circular especially in the lower portions 

 of the bile-ducts), as well as in a delicate longitudinal and circular layer in the 

 gall-bladder. The movements here are slowly rhythmic and peristaltic. The 

 mucous membrane of the gall-bladder is provided with folds and comb-like de- 

 pressions. The epithelium is a single layer of cylindrical epithelium with a basal 

 membrane and intervening mucous goblet-cells. Small mucous glands are found 

 in the mucous membrane of the large bile-ducts and of the gall-bladder. 



The connective tissue of the liver enters the 

 portal fissure as a sheath (capsule of Glisson) for 

 the vessels, and, mixed with elastic tissue, finally 

 reaches the periphery of the acini, where in the 

 pig, the camel and the polar bear it forms a clearly 

 demonstrable capsule, but in human beings is in- 

 conspicuous. Delicate elements can, however, be 

 followed even into the acinus, nucleated star-cells 

 and a network of delicate reticular fibers, which 

 effect the fixation of the elements. 



The connective tissue of the acini not rarely 

 undergoes considerable increase in drunkards, and 

 its hyperplasia may even cause destruction of the 

 contents of the acinus by pressure (cirrhosis of the liver). In this thickened, 

 interacinous connective tissue newly formed bile-ducts have been found, and 

 likewise in the cicatricial connective "tissue of the "corset-liver." 



The lymph-vessels begin as pericapillary ducts in the interior of the acinus. 

 Further on they run within the walls of the hepatic veins and the branches of the 

 portal^vein; then they surround the venous branches. The larger vessels, formed 



from the union of the inter- 

 lobular passages, leave the 

 organ in part at the trans- 

 verse fissure, in part with 

 the hepatic veins, and in 

 part at different points on 

 the surface. At the blunt 

 edge of the liver they form 

 a close meshwork and pass 

 through the triangular, he- 

 pato-renal and suspensory 

 ligaments. 



The nerves of the hepatic 

 plexus, constituted in part 



FIG. 118. Blood-capillaries, Finest Biliary Ducts, and Liver- 

 cells, in Their Mutual Relations in the Rabbit's Liver 

 (after E. Hering): B, blood-vessel; D, finest biliary duct, 

 in cross-section; F, finest biliary duct; K, nucleus of 

 liver-cell. 



C. 



FIG. 119. Interlobular Bile-duct from 

 the Human Liver (after Schenk) : 

 R, circular fibrous layer; C, 

 cylindrical epithelium. 



of Remak's fibers, in part of medullated fibers fiom the sympathetic and pneu- 

 mogastric nerves, follow the ramifications of the hepatic artery. Ganglia are 

 placed in their course in the interior of the organ. The nerves are in part 

 vasomotor in nature. According to Pfliiger, other nerve-fibers enter into direct 

 connection with the liver-cells, as is the case in the salivary glands. The 

 muscle-cells of the bile-ducts contain motor filaments. 



