13.2 - Lab + Lecture Notes

Question 1

Hepatocytes

Answer 1

• arranged in “plates” or “cords” surrounding large sinus capillaries
• primarily reticular fibers in the CT surrounding them
• 2 sides of hepatocyte will be bathed by sinusoidal blood

Question 2

Space of Disse

Answer 2

= between the hepatocytes and discontinuous endothelial lining of sinusoidal capillary
- hepatocytes project microvilli into this space
= space where materials from blood are absorbed or released by hepatocytes

Question 3

Bile canaliculus

Answer 3

• made from cell membranes of adjacent hepatocytes
• surrounded by tight junctions
• hepatocytes project sparse microvilli into this space

Question 4

Classic Liver lobule

Answer 4

• hepatic sinusoidal capillary bed surrounds the central vein in the lobule
• portal triad is located at each vertex
• central vein is located at the center of each hepatic lobule
• should ideally be hexagonal

Question 5

Portal Lobule

Answer 5

• portal triad is placed at the center
• lines drawn containing adjacent central veins
• should ideally be triangular

Question 6

Hepatic acinus

Answer 6

• form a diamond whose vertices join the two closest portal triads across one axis
• with the 2 closest central veins across the other axis

Question 7

Portal triads

Answer 7

• elements include - hepatic artery, bile ductule, lymphatic vessel, nerve fascicle
  (hepatic veins are not part of the portal triad)

Question 8

What are two elements of the liver that can be demonstrated with special stains and what stain would be used for each?

Answer 8

1) CT supporting the hepatocytes = reticular fibers
- use a silver stain
2) Kupffer cells = resident macrophages of liver
- found in sinus lumen
- use supravital staining

Question 9

Glisson’s Capsul

Answer 9

= CT lining outside of liver

Question 10

Given that liver diseases often preferentially affect hepatocytes either closer to or farther from the site of inflow of fresh blood (the portal triad), what are the two ways pathologies may be described?

Answer 10

1) Periportal - preferentially affecting the cells around the portal triad
2) Pericentral - preferentially affecting the cells around the central veins