Liver Structure

Abstract

The liver is the largest and most functional visceral organ in the body. It has a very complex and special structure and a rich blood supply. The location and appearance of the liver are introduced in the anatomy of the liver. Several systems of the liver subdivision have been proposed, but the most widely used systems are those of Couinaud. This chapter also introduces the histology of the liver. The liver has a delicate, complex but well-organized liver structure because of its special development in embryonic stage. The hepatic lobule is the basic structure and functional unit of the liver. There are different points of view on the relationship between hepatic structure and function, three different propositions including classical lobule, portal areas, and hepatic acinus are mentioned in the chapter. The hepatic sinusoid located between the two hepatic plates and communicates with each of them through the pores in the hepatic plate. The perisinusoidal space, also called the Space of Disse, is the place where the liver and the blood exchange the substances. The liver consists of two large groups of parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. The distribution and function of each cell are introduced in the chapter of the liver histology. Blood circulation and bile flow in the liver are also mentioned. The ultrastructure composition of the hepatocytes includes the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. The function of the hepatocyte diversity is closely related to its ultrastructure.