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- traditional lobule scheme of liver organization
- traditional lobules divide the liver into many small, hexagonally shaped lobules
- T = portal triad
- V = central vein
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- hepatic acinus schemes of liver organization
- has a central axis connecting 2 portal triads & extends outwards to 2 central veins
- around the central axis the hepatocytes can be arranged into 3 concentric, elliptical zones defined metabolically and reflect a gradient in availability of oxygen and nutrients
- more physiologically relevant model for the structure and function of the liver
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bile canaliculus
- formed when one hepatocyte contacts another hepatocyte
- these are involved in the exocrine functions of the liver: transport of bilirubin, bile salts & IgA to gall bladder & duodenum
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perisinusoidal space (space of Disse)
- formed when one hepatocyte contacts a sinusoid
- these are involved in microvilli formation and endocrine functions occur here (such as glycogen, lipid, & blood content regulation)
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What kind of exchange occurs between the blood plasma and the hepatocyte surface?
essentially free exchange
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- Kupffer cells
- liver macrophages that phagocytose particulates
- they are attached to sinusoidal endothelial cells' luminal surface
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- gallbladder
- distensible bag attached to underside of the liver that stores & concentrates bile
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- Rokitansky-Aschoff Sinuses
- pockets in the wall of the gallbladder (entrapped epithelial crypts)
- histologically, they are outpouchings of gallbladder mucosa into the gallbladder muscle layer and subserosal tissue
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