... Apparatus. In the centre of each lobule there is a branch of the hepatic vein this is known as the central or intralobular vein. The interlobular vessels are connected to the central intralobular vessel using a system of capillary like sinusoids, they run parallel to and also come into contact with, the chains of liver cells. There are fine channels called canaliculi which surround the liver cells, these connect up with the bile ducts towards the each of the lobule, the bile is temporarily stored in a sac like structure called the gall bladder. Kupffer cells are attached to the wall of the sinusoids; they are large phagocytic macrophages which destroy old erythrocytes and removes bacteria and foreign particles from the blood which flows through the liver. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment. Because the liver has a constant high metabolic rate it produces large amounts of ...

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