22.7.1 liver and gallbladder

liver/gall bladder functions

• detoxify a wide range of chemicals brought into the body through food digestion (LIVER)

• metabolize nutrients into other forms for storage or use by other tissues and make bile (LIVER)

• store bile until it is needed for fat digestion (GALL BLADDER)

septa

branching network of connective tissue forming walls

lobules

hexagonal subunits of liver; organize portal triads and veins

portal triad

hepatic portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct

hepatic cords

radiate out from each central vein; filled with hepatocytes

bile cannaliculus

cleft-like lumen lying between each hepatic cord

hepatocytes

bile production, nutrient metabolism, detox, and synthesis of blood components