OF KIDNEY AND LIVER. 385 



lobules. They then pass, some along the portal passages to 

 the transverse fissure, others up between the lobules to the 

 sub-peritoneal areolar texture of the diaphragmatic surface of 

 the gland. The ducts of the liver may therefore be considered 

 as communicating directly with the lymphatic system. 



The areolar texture of the liver is of great pathological 

 importance. There are two situations in which it can exist 

 in this organ the portal passages and those for the hepatic 

 veins. In the latter situation it is extremely limited in 

 amount and very dense, connecting firmly the bases of all the 

 lobules to the sub-lobular veins, continuous, on the one hand, 

 around the trunk of the hepatic vein with the areolar texture 

 of the posterior region of the cavity of the abdomen ; on the 

 other, around the bases of the lobules with the areolar texture 

 of the portal canals. Lymph and pus do not appear to be de- 

 posited in the areolar texture of the hepatic passages, for so 

 firmly are .the lobules attached to the veins, that when the tex- 

 ture of the organ is broken up by an abscess, the lobules 

 adhere, in the form of masses of parenchyma, to the branches 

 of the hepatic vein, the pus breaking up the texture in the 

 direction of the portal passages and interlobular spaces. 



The second and more important division of the areolar 

 texture occupies the interlobular spaces, is continuous along 

 these with the subserous areolar texture, and, passing along 

 the portal passages, is continuous with the areolar texture of 

 the gastro-hepatic omentum at the transverse fissure. In the 

 interlobular portion of this division of the areolar texture the 

 interlobular plexus of the portal veins and the hepatic ducts 

 are situated. In its continuation under the peritoneum the 

 branches of the hepatic artery for the serous membrane, as well 

 as the superior lymphatics of the liver, lie. In the portal pas- 

 sages the areolar texture, or capsule of Glisson, contains the 

 trunks and branches of the vena portae, the hepatic artery, ducts, 

 nerves, and inferior lymphatics, also the vaginal branches of the 



2c 



