liver lobule


LIVER LOBULE

liver lobule

A small subunit of the liver composed of cells (hepatocytes) that process blood from an incoming portal venule and send the resulting blood to an outgoing hepatic venule. There are two types of liver lobule, which look at the same cluster of liver cells from opposite ends. Focusing on the outflow of blood, the classical lobule is composed of those cords of hepatocytes that drain blood into an individual hepatic venule. Focusing on the inflow of blood, the portal lobule is defined to be those cords of hepatocytes that drain blood from an individual portal venule. Synonym: hepatic lobule See: illustrationSee also: lobule