Microanatomy

Question 1

What is the functional cell of the liver, how are they joined together and seperated

Answer 1

Hepatocytes - Main functional cell of the liver
Joined together in cords towards a central vein
Cords separated by sinusoids

Question 2

How does the liver appear histologically?

Answer 2

Has a granular appearance - lots of mitochondria
Other organelles - RER, SER, large golgi body, lysosomes and peroxisomes.
Glycogen deposits and lipid droplets can be visible

Question 3

What two cells are found in sinusoids? what is their function
What collagen do they sit on?
Describe the blood supply
-What separates them from hepatocytes

Answer 3

Kuffer cell - macrophages (partially responsible for production of bilirubin)
Ito cell - stores fat (found in space of disse, so technically not sinusoids)

-Combination of arterial (30%) and venous (70%) blood (mixing of the oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery and the nutrient-rich blood from the portal vein)

• Sit on reticulin (Collagen III)
• Separated from hepatocytes by space of Disse

Question 4

What are the Biliary canaliculi

Answer 4

Biliary Canaliculi
This is where bile is secreted to from hepatocytes
They drain in opposite direction to blood flow

Question 5

Describe a hepatocyte -where is the portal triad/drainage

Answer 5

The portal triad is located at the corners of the hepatocyte, the central vein is in the centre
The canaliculi create a channel for the bile to the bile ducts