The main structural components of the hepatobiliary system :

• • Gross - Liver, intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts, common bile duct, gallbladder

• • Microscopic:
    • • Hepatocytes, bile duct cells (biliary tract epithelium), sinusoids within liver

     

    • • Organisation: Lobules vs Acini

     

     

Refer to your excellent lecture notes on the Microanatomy of the liver

• • Note: Knowing the 2 main parenchymal cellular components helps make sense of the primary tumours that arise in the liver - hepatocellular or biliary epithlelial (glandular) in origin

• • Note that the liver is special because of dual blood supply:
    • • Portal vein (revise where it drains from!) à main blood supply to liver

     

    • • Hepatic artery à supplies biliary tract; provides minor proportion of blood supple to liver