Canals of Hering
Encyclopedia
The Canals of Hering, or intrahepatic bile ductules, are part of the outflow system of exocrine bile
product from the liver.
near the outer edge of a classic liver lobule
. Histologically, the cells of the ductule are described as simple cuboidal epithelium
, lined partially by cholangiocytes
and hepatocytes. They may not be readily visible but can be differentially stained
by cytokeratins CK19 and CK7.
. Research have indicated the presence of intraorgan stem cells of the liver that can proliferate in disease states, so-called oval cells.
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
product from the liver.
Anatomy
They are found between the bile canaliculi and interlobular bile ductsInterlobular bile ducts
The interlobular bile ducts carries bile in the liver between the Canals of Hering and the intrahepatic bile ducts. They are part of the interlobular portal triad and can be easily localized by looking for the much larger portal vein. The cells of the ducts are described as cuboidal epithelium...
near the outer edge of a classic liver lobule
Hepatic lobule
A hepatic lobule is a small division of the liver defined at the histological scale. It should not be confused with the anatomic lobes of the liver , or any of the functional lobe classification systems....
. Histologically, the cells of the ductule are described as simple cuboidal epithelium
Simple cuboidal epithelium
Simple cuboidal epithelia are epithelial cells in a single layer of cubelike cells with large, spherical central nuclei. Simple cuboidal epithelia are found on the surface of ovaries, the lining of nephrons, the walls of the renal tubules, and parts of the eye and thyroid.On these surfaces, the...
, lined partially by cholangiocytes
Cholangiocytes
Cholangiocytes are the epithelial cells of the bile duct. They are cuboidal epithelium in the small interlobular bile ducts, but become columnar and mucus secreting in larger bile ducts approaching the porta hepatis and the extrahepatic ducts....
and hepatocytes. They may not be readily visible but can be differentially stained
Differential staining
Differential Staining is a general term that can refer to a number of specific processes. Generally, it is used to describe staining processes which use more than one chemical stain...
by cytokeratins CK19 and CK7.
Clinical significance
The Canals of Hering are destroyed early in biliary cirrhosis and may be primary sites of scarring in methotrexate toxicityMethotrexate
Methotrexate , abbreviated MTX and formerly known as amethopterin, is an antimetabolite and antifolate drug. It is used in treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, ectopic pregnancy, and for the induction of medical abortions. It acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. Methotrexate...
. Research have indicated the presence of intraorgan stem cells of the liver that can proliferate in disease states, so-called oval cells.