lobules, in which the portal venous plexus is seen. 
After Kiernan. 
££ a, Interlobular veins. The appearance of venous 
circles formed by these veins is that which is 
afforded by a common lens; when examined with 
higher power the interlobular fissure is seen to be 
filled by a vascular plexus. 6, The lobular venous 
‘plexus. ‘he circular and ovoid spaces seen be- 
een the branches of the plexuses are occupied by 
rtions of the biliary plexus: they are the acini 
Malpighi. c, The intralobular vein in the centre 
each lobule, collecting the blood from the lobu- 
ar venous plexus. 
_ The hepatic duct bifurcates in the transverse 
fissure into two branches, which enter the right 
d left lobes of the liver and subdivide into 
aller branches, and the smaller branches 
mpany the divisions of the portal vein and 
patic artery through the portal canals to their 
timate distribution in the lobules. The 
nches of the hepatic duct, like those of the 
rial vein, are divisible into the vaginal, inter- 
bular, and lobular ducts. 
The vaginal ducts pass transversely through 
the capsule of Glisson, by which they are enve- 
loped in common with the portal vein and 
lepatic artery, and divide into numerous small 
nches which assist in forming the vaginal 
From the plexus of ducts two kinds 
branches are given off, the interlobular, 
which run along the margins of the interlobular 
ures and enter the interlobular spaces to be 
stributed upon the capsular surfaces of the 
lobules ; and the lobular, which enter the sub- 
stance of those lobules which form the parietes 
of the portal canals. In the smaller portal 
als the vaginal branches and plexus are 
situated only on the sgh side of the canal, 
th es, on the side nearest 
the duct, passing directly into the interlobular 
es. “The transverse branches and those 
hich arise immediately from them do not 
anastomose with each other, but the smaller 
spre sometimes appear to do so; I cannot, 
owever,” says Kiernan, “ from dissection, 
affirm that they do, for those which appear to 
anastomose are exceedingly small vessels and 
meet each other at the spaces, hence it is diffi- 
cult to ascertain whether they really anastomose 
or enter the spaces together without anasto- 
mosing.” ; 
NORMAL ANATOMY OF THE LIVER. 
169 
The interlobular ducts ramify upon the cap- 
sular surface of the lobules with the branches 
of the portal vein and hepatic artery. Kiernan 
finds these ducts to communicate freely with 
each other, for he says, “ If the left hepatic 
duct be injected with size or mercury, the injec- 
tion will return by the right duct without extra- 
vasation and without passing into other vessels, 
and the injection will be found in the inter- 
lobular and vaginal ducts as well as in the 
trunks. This communication between the two 
ducts does not take place like that which exists 
between the right and lefffrteries through the 
medium of the vaginal branches of the trans- 
verse fissure, the injection being found in inter- 
lobular branches arising from the right duct. 
From this experiment, which I have frequently 
repeated with the same result, it appears that 
the right and left duct anastomose with each 
other through the medium of the interlobular 
ducts. This experiment does not always suc- 
ceed, which probably arises from the quantity 
of bile contained in the ducts.” 
The lobular ducts entering the*lobule by its 
circumference divide and subdivide into minute 
branches which anastomose with each other 
and form a “ reticulated plexus,” the lobular 
biliary plexus (fig. 40). ‘This plexus consti- 
Fig. 40. 
aa, Interlobular ducts giving off branches which 
form the plexus within the lobules. The central 
portion of the lobules is uninjected. 5b, The rami- 
fications of the intralobular veins. With regard to 
this figure Kiernan observes, ‘‘ No such view of 
the ducts as that represented in this figure can be 
obtained in the liver. The interlobular ducts are 
in the figure seen anastomosing with each other. 1 
have never seen these anastomoses, but I have 
seen the anastomoses of the ducts in the left lateral 
ligament, and from the results of experiments re- 
lated in this paper, I believe the interlobular ducts 
anastomose. 1 have never injected the lobular 
biliary plexuses to the extent represented in the 
figure.” 
tutes the principal part of the substance of the 
lobule, and seen through the meshes of the 
portal venous plexus, gives rise to the appear- 
ance of acini or of cecal terminations of ducts. 
The ultimate terminations of the ducts have 
not yet been seen; they are imagined by 
Miiller to end in “ short pannicle-like tufts 
closely interwoven together,” and he supports 
his opinion by citing the circumstance of the 
ducts in the embryo of the fowl and larva of 
