188 



MANUAL OF HISTOLOGY. 



central veins occupying the position of the axes of the lobules 

 and the capillaries, pursuing a radial course and anastomosing 

 with each other by transverse communications. 



Since the capillaries successively divide from the centre 

 toward the periphery, it follows that they are much less numer- 

 ous at the former than at the latter point. A section through 

 the long axis of an acinus will show that the central vein is 

 divided lengthwise, and that the capillaries are given off from 

 it almost at right angles to its course. 



Nearer the summit of the lobule, however, the central vein 

 is seen to break up into diverging capillaries. If the section 

 has been made to one side of the central vein, but yet parallel 

 with its axis, many capillaries will be cut across, more or less 

 transversely, and will then appear as small, circular, or oval 

 rings. 



The connective tissue of the liver. Glisson's capsule is 

 formed of longitudinal bundles of connective tissue which are 



loosely interwoven. It serves 

 to bind together the hepatic 

 artery, portal vein, and hepatic 

 duct, and also fills out the 

 small spaces left between the 

 ramifications of these vessels 

 (Fig. 82). Sections from a liver 

 hardened in chromic acid or 

 alcohol, and immersed in a di- 

 lute solution of caustic potassa, 

 or simply pencilled, show the 

 connective tissue well. About 

 the hepatic vein it is thin and 

 dense, and firmly united to the glandular structure, so that 

 when cut transversely these vessels appear to gape. In the 

 camel the connective tissue is greatly developed, 1 even more so 

 than in the hog. The interlobular septa are very dense and 

 fibrillated ; in the interior of the lobule the connective tissue 

 has a lamellar structure. 



According to Ewald and Kuehne, minute bundles of fibrous tissue extend 

 beyond this interlobular connective tissue, and piercing the lobules eventually 

 surround the central veins. 



FIG. 82. Connective- tissue of a child's liver, 

 after hardening in alcohol and pencilling : , a, 

 capillary vecxels containing a few blood-globules ; 

 6, 6, connective-tissne fibrils ; c, c, liver cells not 

 removed by pencilling. 



1 Turner, Wm., Journal of Anat and Phys., Vol. XI., p. 2. 



