Avian Liver - Anatomy & Physiology

Structure

The liver has 2 lobes. It is dark brown coloured (except just after hatching where it is yellow). The right lobe larger than left lobe. It is positioned ventral and caudal to the heart (as there is no diaphragm). It is closely associated to the proventriculus and spleen. It has a thin capsule and indistinct lobation. 2 bile ducts enter the distal duodenum, one from each lobe of the liver. The duct from the right lobe is connected to the gallbladder. Hepatic lobules are indistinct (except near hilus) due to a lack of perilobular connective tissue. Avian bile aids the emulsification of fats and contains amylase and lipase.

Anatomy of the Liver(Avian)- Copyright RVC 2008

Liver and Spleen (Avian)- Copyright Nottingham 2008

Function

See liver function.

Vasculature

See liver vasculature.

Innervation

See liver innervation.

Lymphatics

See liver lymphatics.

Gallbladder- Species Differences

Pigeons and parrots lack a gall bladder.

Histology

• Polyhedral and angular cells

• Larger cells than in mammals

• Large, spherical nucleus

• Base of cell forms a wall of the sinusoid

• Cell apices communicate with the bile canaliculi

• Granular cytoplasm

• Liver cords form columns around the interlobular bile capillary. The cell arrangement is simpler than in mammals.

• Sinusoids anastamose freely

• Kupfer cells present

• Reticular fibres support the liver cords

• Elastic fibres in the capsule and vessels

Links

Test yourself with the Avian Alimentary Tract Flashcards

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