STRUCTURE OF THE LIVER. 349 



lobule are kept separate. Some bile capillaries run along the edges of the 

 liver-cells in the human liver, especially during embryonic life (Zuckerkandl, 

 Toldt). 



Towards the peripheral part of the lobule, the bile capillaries are larger, while 

 adjoining channels anastomose, and leave the lobule, when they become interlobular 

 ducts ((7), which join with other similar ducts to form larger interlobular bile ducts. 

 These accompany the hepatic artery and portal vein, and leave the liver at the 

 transverse fissure. The finer interlobular ducts frequently anastomose in Glisson's 

 capsule (Asp), possess a structureless basement membrane, and are lined by a single 

 layer of low polyhedral epithelial cells. The larger interlobular ducts have a 

 distinct wall consisting of connective and elastic tissue, mixed with circularly 

 disposed smooth muscular fibres. Capillaries are 

 supplied to the wall, which is lined by a single 

 layer of columnar epithelium. A sub-mucosa occurs 

 only in the largest bile ducts, and in the gall- 

 bladder. ; Smooth muscular fibres, arranged in single 

 bundles, occur in the largest ducts, and as longi- 123 

 tudinal and circular layers in the gall-bladder, Fig. 144. 



whose mucous membrane is provided with numer- j ? Liver-cell during fasting; 

 ous folds and depressions. The epithelium lining 2, containing masses of gly- 

 the gall-bladder is cylindrical, with a distinct clear cogen ; 3, a liver-cell sur- 

 disc, and between these cells are goblet cells. Small rounded with bile-channels 

 branched tubular mucous glands occur in the large f rom w hich fine twigs pro- 

 bile ducts and in the gall-bladder. cee d into the cell-substance 

 Vasa Aberrantia are isolated bile ducts which where they end in vacuole- 

 occur on the surface of the liver, but have no rela- like enlargements. From 

 tion to any system of liver lobules. They occur a ra bbit's liver injected 

 at the sharp margin of the liver, in the region of the w ith Berlin blue from the 

 inferior vena cava, of the gall-bladder, and of the bile duct, 

 parts near the portal fissure. It seems that the 



liver lobules to which they originally belonged have atrophied and disappeared 

 (Zuckerkandl and Toldt). 



5. The Lymphatics begin as pericapillary tubes around the capillaries within the 

 lobules (MacGillavry). They emerge from the lobule, and run within the walls of 

 the branches of the hepatic and portal veins, and afterwards surround the venous 

 trunks (Fleischl, A. Budge), thus forming the interlobular lymphatics. These 

 unite to form larger trunks, which leave the liver partly at the portal fissure, 

 partly along with the hepatic veins, and partly at different points on the surface 

 of the organ. There is a narrow superficial mesh-work of lymphatics under the 

 peritoneum sub -peritoneal which communicates with the thoracic lymphatics 

 through the triangular ligament and suspensorium, while on the under surface, they 

 communicate with the lymphatics of the interlobular connective tissue. 



6. The Nerves consist partly of medullated and partly of non-medullated fibres 

 from branches of the sympathetic and left vagus to the hepatic plexus. They 

 accompany the branches of the hepatic artery, and ganglia occur on their branches 

 within the liver. Some of the nerve-fibres are vaso-motor in function, and, 

 according to Pfliiger, other nerve-fibres terminate directly in connection with 

 liver-cells, although this observation has still to be confirmed. 



Pathological. The connective tissue between the lobules may undergo great 

 increase in amount, especially in alcohol- and gin-drinkers, and thus the substance 

 of the lobules may be greatly compressed, owing to the cicatricial contraction of 

 the newly -formed connective tissue (Liver Cirrhosis). In such interlobular con- 

 nective tissue, newly-formed bile ducts are found (Cornil, Charcot, and others). 



Ligature of the ductus choledochus t after a time, causes interstitial inflammation 

 of the liver. In rabbits and guinea-pigs, the liver parenchyma disappears, and its 



