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Hepatocytes

The hepatocytes are cells which comprise the liver parenchyma. They are its primary functional units. Each individual cell has the capacity for all functions. As a group, the hepatocytes perform a vast array of physiological tasks, all of which are necessary for the maintenance of biologic homeostasis.

In the normal adult liver, it has been estimated that there are about 250 billion hepatocytes (1:xxix). Indeed, the liver is the largest visceral organ in mammals; in man, its weight is approximately 1.5 kilograms (8:8).

The development of the liver parenchyma starts from entodermal cells. These embryonic precursors grow into the mesenchyma of the septum transversum (8:8). The organ itself generally performs two major actions. At one end of the spectrum, the liver serves an ingestive function. For example, it absorbs metabolites from the blood. In addition, the hepatocytes also have a secretory capacity. The liver produces a number of compounds which are secreted back into either the blood or the bile.

The hepatocytes comprise approximately 80% of a human liver's volume. Moreover, these cells make up about 60% of the organ's total cell number (8:10). In histological sections, these parenchymal cells appear irregularly polygonal and range in diameter from 18 to 30 microns (6:11). These similarlooking cells also tend to be joined laterally. Thus, they form complicated, walllike structures of anastomosing plates known as the hepatic muralium.

These hepatocyte plates are typically onecellthick; although twocellthick plates occasionally occur. They also tend to be bent to form a lacunar meshwork. Within the meshwork, the sinusoids lead the mixed blood of the hepatic artery and portal vein into the "labrinthus hepatis" (8:1011). Under normal circumstances each hepatocyte is exposed on two sides by the blood of at least two different sinusoids (7:40). This perisinusoidal region represents up to 40...

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Hepatocytes. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 11:39, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1688049.html