hepatic and biliary disorders
Liver Structure and Function
Overview of liver structure
At the cellular level, portal triads consist of adjacent and parallel terminal branches of bile ducts, portal veins, and hepatic arteries that border the hepatocytes. Terminal branches of the hepatic veins are in the center of hepatic lobules. Blood flows from the portal triads past the hepatocytes and drains via vein branches in the center of the lobule, rendering the center of the lobule the area most susceptible to ischemia. The liver is organized into lobules around terminal branches of the hepatic vein (central veins). Between the lobules are portal triads. Each triad consists of branches of a bile duct, portal vein, and hepatic artery. 