SECRETION AND DISCHARGE OF BILE 363 



few goblet-cells. In the gall-bladder are found small racemose glands 

 formed of four to eight follicles lodged in the submucous structure. 

 These are essentially the same as the glands opening into the ducts in 

 the substance of the liver and secrete a mucus that is mixed with the 

 bile. 



Nerves and Lymphatics of the Liver. The nerves of the liver are 

 derived from the pneumogastric, the phrenic, and the solar plexus of 

 the sympathetic. The branches of the left pneumogastric penetrate 

 with the portal vein, while the branches from the right pneumogastric, 

 the phrenic and the sympathetic, surround the hepatic artery and the 

 hepatic duct. All these nerves penetrate at the transverse fissure and 

 follow the bloodvessels in their distribution. They have not been 

 traced beyond the final ramifications of the capsule of Glisson and their 

 exact mode of termination is unknown. 



The lymphatics of the liver are very abundant. They are divided 

 into two layers; the superficial layer, situated just beneath the serous 

 membrane, and the deep layer. The superficial lymphatics from the 

 under surface of the liver and that portion of the deep lymphatics which 

 follows the hepatic veins out of the liver pass through the diaphragm 

 and are connected with the thoracic glands. Some of the lymphatics 

 from the superior, or convex surface join the deep vessels that emerge 

 at the transverse fissure and pass into glands below the diaphragm, 

 while others pass into the thoracic cavity. 



The mode of origin of the lymphatics is peculiar. The superficial 

 lymphatics are subperitoneal and are connected with spaces or canals 

 in the general connective tissue of the liver. The deep lymphatics are 

 supposed to originate by perivascular canals surrounding the blood- 

 vessels of the lobules, which are connected with vessels in the walls of 

 small branches of the hepatic and portal veins, afterward surrounding 

 the larger vessels. 



Chemistry of the Liver. As regards the chemistry of the liver, little 

 has been ascertained that is of much physiological importance. The 

 liver-cells contain globulins, nucleo-proteids, cholesterin, urea, uric acid, 

 xanthin, hypoxanthin and sometimes leucin and tyrosin. In addition, 

 a nitrogenous substance (C 105 H 186 N 5 SP 3 O 45 ) containing phosphorus has 

 been found. This has been called jecorin (Drechsel), although it is 

 not confined to the liver but exists in the spleen, brain, muscle and some 

 other tissues. In most of its properties it resembles 'lecithin. 



Mechanism of the Secretion and Discharge of Bile. In its anatomy 

 the liver differs greatly from other glandular organs, both secretory and 

 excretory. The liver-cells are not enclosed in ducts, but are surrounded 

 with a plexus of small vessels or spaces that receive the bile as it is 



