Chap. XXVII.] 



THE LIVER. 



213 



centre of the acinus. Sometimes the liver cells contain 

 minute pigment granules. 



Each liver cell shows a more or less fibrillated and 

 reticulated protoplasm (Kupfer), and in the centre a 

 spherical nucleus with its reticulum, generally with 

 one or more nucleoli. 

 During activity the 

 liver cells are larger 

 and look more gran- 

 ular than after 

 action. 



The liver cells 

 are 'joined with one 

 another by an albu- 

 minous cement sub- 

 stance, in which are 

 left fine channels ; 

 these are the bile 



rriwllavipfi nr intvn 

 Capillaries, Or llltra- 



lobular bile Vessels 



(Fig. 125) In a 



c ii 



BUCCeSSlUllv iniected 

 . J J . 



preparation, the 



125. From a Lobule of the Liver of 

 R abbit , in which Blood and Bile Vessels 

 had been injected, more highly magnified 



6, Bile capillaries between the liver cells; these 

 ! "' ( ' wll shown as nucleated polygonal cells, 

 each with a distinct reticulum; c, capillary 



biood-vesseis, 



liver cells appear 

 separated everywhere from one another by a bile 

 capillary, and these form for the whole acinus a con- 

 tinuous intercommunicating network of minute 

 channels. Where the liver cells are in contact witli 

 a capillary blood-vessel, there, of course, are no bile 

 capillaries, since these exist only between liver celh. 



281. At the margin of the acinus the bile capil- 

 laries are connected with the lumen of minute tubes; 

 these possess a membrana propria and a lumen lined 

 with a single layer of transparent polyhedral epithelial 

 cells. These are the small interlobular bile ducts 

 (Fig. 124). Their epithelial cells are in reality con- 

 tinuous with the liver cells. They join so as to form 



