Liver sinusoid
Encyclopedia
A liver sinusoid is a type of sinusoidal blood vessel
(with fenestrated, discontinuous endothelium
) that serves as a location for the oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery
and the nutrient-rich blood from the portal vein.
Hepatocytes are separated from the sinusoids by the space of Disse
. Kupffer cells are located inside the sinusoids and can take up and destroy foreign material such as bacteria
.
Sinusoid (blood vessel)
A sinusoid is a small blood vessel similar to a capillary but with a fenestrated endothelium. Fenestrations are pores in the endothelial cells that greatly increase their permeability. In addition, permeability is increased by large inter-cellular clefts and fewer tight junctions...
(with fenestrated, discontinuous endothelium
Endothelium
The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels, forming an interface between circulating blood in the lumen and the rest of the vessel wall. These cells are called endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the entire circulatory system, from the heart...
) that serves as a location for the oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery
Hepatic artery
Hepatic artery can refer to:* Common hepatic artery * Hepatic artery proper...
and the nutrient-rich blood from the portal vein.
Hepatocytes are separated from the sinusoids by the space of Disse
Space of Disse
The space of Disse is a location in the liver between a hepatocyte and a sinusoid. It contains the blood plasma. Microvilli of hepatocytes extend into this space, allowing proteins and other plasma components from the sinusoids to be absorbed by the hepatocytes. Fenestration and discontinuity of...
. Kupffer cells are located inside the sinusoids and can take up and destroy foreign material such as bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
.