8 THE LIVER, BY EWALD HERING. 



the direction of the section. For as we can pass from each 

 radial capillary to several other radial capillaries, without 

 overstepping the limits of an individual hepatic cell, we see 

 between two such adjoining capillaries, if they lie with their 

 whole length in the plane of the section, a single row of hepatic 

 cells, which, on the side directed towards the axis, and on that 

 directed towards the periphery of the lobule, is limited either 

 by a transverse anastomosis of the radial capillaries, or becomes 

 continuous with adjoining rows of cells. Hence the individual 

 hepatic cells present a more or less regular cubic form, and the 

 line of junction between two of them runs transversely from 

 one capillary vessel to another. If the section be so thick that 

 cells lie superjacent to the two above-mentioned capillaries, and 

 be at the same time sufficiently transparent, the hepatic cells 

 appear in the form of polygons with five or six sides, consti- 

 tuting a continuous layer, interrupted only by a few ascending 

 and transversely divided capillaries that previously esta- 

 blished the communication with other radial capillaries situated 

 above the surface of section. From five to seven cells then lie 

 around the tranverse section of such a connecting capillary. If, 

 however, the section have struck a number of capillaries at right 

 angles to their axes, their circular sections will be found to lie 

 so close to each other that the adjacent ones are separated by 

 only a single hepatic cell. Here and there short anastomosing 

 capillaries may be seen passing from one radial vessel to 

 another. Excluding those hepatic cells that immediately touch 

 such anastomosing capillaries, the cells in general are in contact 

 with two capillaries, or with one only, or rarely with three. 



With these more simple structural characters we may associate 

 a number of others, many of them exceedingly complex, which 

 are dependent on the direction of the section, and the part 

 through which it is carried. But the remarks already made will 

 suffice to show that the hepatic cells will be found to be arranged 

 in the most various manner between the capillaries; some- 

 times forming long rows, that at certain points coalesce into a 

 plexiform structure, with elongated meshes, like the capillaries ; 

 sometimes forming a close network, the small round meshes of 

 which include the transverse sections of the capillaries ; some- 

 times resembling an epithelium composed of polygonal cells, 



