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Microanatomy of the liver: physiopathological, clinical, and surgical aspects

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Book cover Biopathology of the Liver

Abstract

The liver joins the pancreas in its classification as an amphicrine* organ, a structure functioning simultaneously as an exocrine and an endocrine gland. The angioarchitecture of the liver, including both vessels and biliary ducts parenchymal distributions, provides the morphological background for understanding hepatic physiopathology. The liver receives: (1) a relatively large volume of blood from visceral organs, such as those of the digestive system (oesophagus, stomach, intestines and pancreas) and the spleen, and (2) a small volume of blood from parietal organs, such as adjacent or neighbouring perihepatic structures. More blood arrives at the liver by means of the portal vein and its branches (representing vasa publica) than by means of the hepatic artery and its branches (representing vasa privata). The venous blood, rich in nutritional subtances absorbed at the level of the digestive system, and are scrutinized in the hepatic parenchyma which is drained by the hepatic veins (right, intermediate and left) and by the caudate lobe (segment) veins.

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Authors
  1. L. J. A. Didio
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  2. E. Gaudio
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  3. S. Correr
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University ‘La Sapienza’, Viale Regina Elena 289, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Pietro M. Motta MD, PhD (Chairman and Professor) (Chairman and Professor)

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Didio, L.J.A., Gaudio, E., Correr, S. (1988). Microanatomy of the liver: physiopathological, clinical, and surgical aspects. In: Motta, P.M. (eds) Biopathology of the Liver. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1239-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1239-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7049-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-1239-7

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