28 APPENDIX. 



Of the Intimate Structure and Functions of the Liver. 



Note M. 

 The very minute researches of Dr. J. M. -Mappes, of Frankfort on the Maine, on the 



rnately it will itself pass out of those vessels. If the liver be now examined, either by 

 dissecting of the peritoneum, or cutting or tearing the liver, two structures will be ob- 

 served ; the one granulated, forming convolutions, now resembling those of the intes- 

 tines, and now branching in other forms ; flattened and yet rounded, dense and of a yel- 

 low colour, and about a quarter of aline in diameter the other a cellulo-vascular struc- 

 ture, of a brown colour, which fills up the rounded spaces or oblong fissures, of from a 

 quarter to a half a line in diameter, which separate the convolutions from each other. 

 These strictures are well shown, if water, in which cinnabar has been diffused, be thrown 

 into the hepatic veins ; for the cinnibar is precipitated on the sides of the vessel, and 

 the water passes by the vena portae. Between the convolutions are found triangular and 

 somewhat broken openings, which communicate with each other by little chinks. 

 Some of these contain twigs of the hepatic vein ; in the others, and especially where 

 the chinks are traced to a great depth, and where the vessels form larger trunks, three 

 vessels are seen together, a large one belonging to the hepatic vein, and two others, of 

 a smaller diameter, belonging to the artery and the hepatic duct. 



" If the hepatic vein be excepted, the other vessels form branches like a tree, as in 

 the rest of the body. The artery, however, gives the most branches ; apparently, be- 

 cause they surround, like a capillary net-work, the parietes of the vena ports, to which 

 purpose they seem to be particularly destined : although some brandies penetrate to 

 the surface of the liver, and are distributed on the peritoneum but without forming a 

 net-work, as in the former case. The ramifications of the hepatic artery and the hepatic 

 duct are always strictly united together ; and, in accompanying the larger branches of 

 the vena portae, they do not intertwine at the two opposite sides of the latter vessel. 



" The large branches of the hepatic duct divide at an acute angle ; but the ramifica- 

 tions divide at right, or even obtuse angles. It is these latter short and loose twigs which 

 form the parallel ranges of holes, which are seen by cutting 1 the liver in the direction 

 of a branch. These holes are the orifices of vessel, as is seen by injection or by dis- 

 secting the twigs : they cannot, therefore, be confounded with the little dimples which 

 are seen on the internal parietes of the largest hepatic trunks. All the ramifications of 

 the hepatic trunk, indeed, when cut, present a gaping, firm opening, like an artery ; 

 whilst the cut orifice of the vena portse, which accompany them, are always in a col- 

 lapsed state. 



< The duct ramifies something like the vein. The short and thick trunks divide into 

 branches, and form a crowd of smaller and looser twigs, which embrace the grains of 

 the granular substance above described, but apparently without penetrating the sub- 

 stance of them. Hence, these grains are somewhat separated from each other, and they 

 in some degree compress the cellulo-vascular substance, without, however, giving any 

 of their colour to the latter, which is only traversed by some injected vessels. 



" The parietes of the artery, the vena ports, and the hepatic duct, do not adhere to 

 the substance of the liver ; but are separated from it, as may be seen by the microscope, 

 partly by a uniform gelatinous, matter, and partly by an extension of the cellular mem- 

 brane, which composes the capsule of Glisson. The hepatic vein, on the contrary, ad- 

 heres intimately to the granulated substance ; it also follows without variation, the lat- 

 ter in its distribution, and the smallest branches penetrate between its granulations. 

 These facts prove the intimate relation which exists be ween (he vein and the granular 

 substance : whilst the artery and vena portse ramify together in the cellulo-vascular sub- 

 stance, and on the surface of the principal circumvolutions of the granulated substance; 

 atid the hepatic duct, the twigs of whicli are averted from each other, seems to hold a 

 relation with both orders of vessels. 



" If a single hepatic vessel be injected, the injection will only pass to the part to 

 M'hich that braivch is distributed ; on the contrary, water passes rapidly and easily from 



* Journal Complernentairc du Dictionnaire des Sciences Medicales* No, 46 Mai, 1822. 



