Abstract
Microvasculature of normal human and rat liver surface was studied by scanning electron microscopy of liver vascular casts and by a dye injection method. On the human liver surface, branched portal veins, 0.5-3mm in length, were regularly arranged at a constant interval, 1-2mm. Between the branched vessels, sinusoids showed centripetal arrangement forming a complex network. Lobular marking was formed with these branched portal veins and sinusoids. Central veins were not observed on the liver surface and were situated just under the surface. On the rat liver surface, portal veins were not observed, however, central veins, Y-shaped or straight vessels, were observed in the center of the lobule. It appears that rat liver surface microvasculature is much different from that of the human liver.
