Live

Overview

Largest gland in the body and is composed of a single type of

parenchymal cell, the hepatocyte.
It is surrounded by a dense, irregular connective tissue capsule.
It is fused with the capsule where the peritoneum covers the liver.
The capsule enters the organ at the porta hepatis and branches into septa
that subdivide the liver into its 4 lobes (right, left, quadrate and caudate
lobes)
Bile duct and arteries branch in the liver and continue in the connective
tissue septae
Called interlobular bile ducts, arteries and veins

Functions

Exocrine synthesis and secretion of bile

Endocrine secretion of IGF-1
activation of Vitamin D
formation of T3 from T4
secretion of angiotensin
metabolism of hormones
secretion of cytokines

Production of clotting factors

Production of plasma proteins
Maintains blood glucose level
Production of urea
Cholesterol metabolism
Detoxifcation and excretion
Storage of vitamins, minerals and glycogen

Blood supply

Structural organization

The liver is subdivided into lobules. Different types of lobules are identified
functionally:

Classic liver lobules - lobules characterized by the connective tissue

septa that surround
them
Portal lobule lobules characterized by the glandular tissue that is
drained by a
specific secretory duct
Liver acinus lobules characterized by the glandular tissue that is
supplied by
certain blood vessels and viewed as a functional
unit

l layer thick

Liver cell plates - usually one cell layer thick

Sinusoids - connected to each other through the pores in the plates

begin at the surface of the liver lobule and open into the central
vein
Central vein located in the centre of the lobule
Liver parenchyme
extend from the central vein to the periphery of
the lobule
consists of liver cells, arranged in cords
sinusoids between cords, that open in central vain
Portal areas (triads) blood vessels, bile ducts and lymphatic vessels

Sinusoidal Wall

Consists of:
Endothelium cells are fenestrated
Kupffer cells
macrophages
lysosomes are conspicuous
Basal lamina poorly developed or absent
Perisinusoidal Space of Disse

Surrounds the sinusoids

Between the wall of sinusoid and liver cell
Filled with blood plasma
Microvilli extend from liver cells into the space of Disse
Reticular fibres form a network in this space
Lipid storing cells are found in the spaces

Kupffer Cells
Stellate sinusoidal macrophages
Part of the endothelial lining
Metabolize aged erythrocytes
Digest haemoglobin
Secrete proteins (immunology)
Destroy bacteria