184 



THE ESSENTIALS OF HISTOLOGY. 



Each lobule is a mass of hepatic cells pierced everywhere with a 

 network of blood-capillaries (fig. 214), which arise at the periphery of 

 the lobule, there receiving blood from the interlobular branches of the 

 portal vein (p\ and converge to the centre of the lobule, where they 

 unite to form the intralobular branch of the hepatic vein. The inter- 

 lobular branches of the hepatic arteries join this capillary network a 

 short distance from the periphery of the lobule. 



FIG. 217. LOBULE OF BABBIT'S LIVER, VESSELS AND BILE-DUCTS INJECTED. (Cadiat. 

 a, central vein ; b, b, peripheral or interlobular veins ; c, interlobular bile-duct. 



The hepatic cells (figs. 215, 216), which everywhere lie between and 

 surround the capillaries, are polyhedral, somewhat granular-looking cells, 

 each containing a spherical nucleus. After a meal the cells in the 

 outer part of the lobule may contain fat in some animals, and masses of 

 glycogen can also be seen within the cells if the liver be hardened in 



