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The typical hepatocyte is cubical with sides of 20-30 μm, (in comparison, a human hair has a diameter of 17 to 180 μm). [1] The typical volume of a hepatocyte is 3.4 x 10 −9 cm 3. [2] Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is abundant in hepatocytes, in contrast to most other cell types. [3]
Cytology is the name given to the branch of biology that deals with the formation, structure and functionality of the cells. [1] Liver cytology specializes in the study of liver cells. The main liver cells are called hepatocytes; however, there are other cells that can be observed in a liver sample such as Kupffer cells (macrophages). [2]
In histology (microscopic anatomy), the lobules of liver, or hepatic lobules, are small divisions of the liver defined at the microscopic scale. The hepatic lobule is a building block of the liver tissue, consisting of a portal triad, hepatocytes arranged in linear cords between a capillary network, and a central vein.
At birth, the liver comprises roughly 4% of body weight and weighs on average about 120 g (4 oz). Over the course of further development, it will increase to 1.4–1.6 kg (3.1–3.5 lb) but will only take up 2.5–3.5% of body weight. [40] Hepatosomatic index (HSI) is the ratio of liver weight to body weight. [41]
Although the LSECs make up only about 3% of the total liver cell volume, their surface in a normal adult human liver is about 210 m 2, or nearly the size of a tennis court. [1] The LSEC structure differs from other endothelia. The cells contain many open pores, or fenestrae, with diameters from 100 to 150 nm.
Overview of phagocytosis Phagocytosis versus exocytosis. Phagocytosis (from Ancient Greek φαγεῖν (phagein) 'to eat' and κύτος (kytos) 'cell') is the process by which a cell uses its plasma membrane to engulf a large particle (≥ 0.5 μm), giving rise to an internal compartment called the phagosome.
Hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs) are a group of phylogenetically unrelated transcription factors that regulate the transcription of a diverse group of genes into proteins. These proteins include blood clotting factors and in addition, enzymes and transporters involved with glucose , cholesterol , and fatty acid transport and metabolism .
Through processes like autocrinem, paracrinem, and endocrine signaling, hepatokines can influence metabolic processes. [1] It has been stated that, "hepatocytes secrete more than 560 types of hepatokines, many of which regulate metabolic and inflammatory diseases in the liver or at distant organs through circulation delivery."