AB1.H1.3 +D1 Liver Organisation
Liver Organisation:
- The liver is the largest gland in the body
- The organisation of the liver is related to the blood supply
- The liver receives a dual blood supply
- One supply, via the hepatic arteries, brings oxygenated blood to the liver
- The second supply is via the hepatic portal vein which brings (venous) blood which is rich in nutrients absorbed in the gut
- The blood from both sources is mixed in blood sinusoids which run between cords (rows) of hepatocytes
- Hepatocytes are the parenchymal cells of the liver
- The blood sinusoids drain into central veins which are the tributaries of the hepatic veins (usually 4)
- These drain directly into the inferior vena cava at the posterior side of the liver
- Branches of the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein are distributed through the liver in portal tracts
- A portal tract is a collection of tubes which are bound together by loose connective tissue
- In each portal tract there is:
- a branch of the hepatic artery
- a branch of the hepatic portal vein
- a tributary of the bile duct
- The tributaries of the bile duct come together at the hilus of the liver (the porta hepatis) to deliver the bile to the gall bladder for storage
Question:
Diagram of Liver Cells:
