Liver: hepatocytes

This electron micrograph of the liver shows several hepatocytes abutting wide-bore, discontinuous capillaries, or sinusoids.  Plates of hepatocytes, located between the sinusoids, are separated from them by the space of Disse.  Plates of hepatocytes are arranged as a single row of cells, as seen here, or in plates two cells wide.  5000x

This electron micrograph of the liver shows several hepatocytes abutting wide-bore, discontinuous capillaries, or sinusoids.  Plates of hepatocytes, located between the sinusoids, are separated from them by the space of Disse.  Plates of hepatocytes are arranged as a single row of cells, as seen here, or in plates two cells wide.  5000x

This electron micrograph of the liver shows several hepatocytes abutting wide-bore, discontinuous capillaries, or sinusoids.  Plates of hepatocytes, located between the sinusoids, are separated from them by the space of Disse.  Plates of hepatocytes are arranged as a single row of cells, as seen here, or in plates two cells wide.  5000x

This electron micrograph of the liver shows several hepatocytes abutting wide-bore, discontinuous capillaries, or sinusoids.  Plates of hepatocytes, located between the sinusoids, are separated from them by the space of Disse.  Plates of hepatocytes are arranged as a single row of cells, as seen here, or in plates two cells wide.  5000x

Because hepatocytes are such active cells, their nuclei are always very euchromatic, and the cells possess large numbers of mitochondria.  Hepatocytes have abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, the site of plasma protein production, that constitutes a major portion of the gland’s endocrine secretion.  Numerous glycogen granules, the storage form of glucose, are present.

Because hepatocytes are such active cells, their nuclei are always very euchromatic, and the cells possess large numbers of mitochondria.  Hepatocytes have abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, the site of plasma protein production, that constitutes a major portion of the gland’s endocrine secretion.  Numerous glycogen granules, the storage form of glucose, are present.

Because hepatocytes are such active cells, their nuclei are always very euchromatic, and the cells possess large numbers of mitochondria.  Hepatocytes have abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, the site of plasma protein production, that constitutes a major portion of the gland’s endocrine secretion.  Numerous glycogen granules, the storage form of glucose, are present.

Microvilli increase the surface area of each hepatocyte.  These microvilli project into the space of Disse, a perisinusoidal space between the hepatocytes and the sinusoids.  Blood plasma escapes through endothelial fenestrations and gaps between endothelial cells to enter the space of Disse, thereby directly contacting the hepatocytes and their microvilli.