Embryogenesis and Anatomy
The liver is a cellular organ that executes vital cellular functions and communicates with the remainder of the digestive system by a series of ductular and vascular structures essential for normal metabolic and excretory pathways. Its developmental landmarks begin in early embryogenesis, when the liver begins as a thickening of endothelial cells that proliferate and invade the neighboring mesoderm of the septum transversum. This is followed by a series of steps involving cellular proliferation, migration, and differentiation to give rise to the hepatic parenchyma and additional morphogenic changes to form the bile ducts. These processes occur in an orderly fashion during embryogenesis and establish structural and functional features that are well recognized in the mature liver (Table 202.1 ).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Balistreri WF (2000) Pediatric hepatology. A half-century of progress. Clin Liver Dis 4:191–210
Balistreri WF, Bezerra JA (2006) Whatever happened to “neonatal hepatitis”? Clin Liver Dis 10:27–53, v
Bezerra JA (1998) Liver development: a paradigm for hepatobiliary disease in later life. Semin Liver Dis 18:203–216
Bove KE (2000) Liver disease caused by disorders of bile acid synthesis. Clin Liver Dis 4:831–848
Holt RI, Jones JS, Stone NM et al (1996) Sequential changes in insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins in children with end-stage liver disease before and after successful orthotopic liver transplantation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 81:160–168
Holt RI, Jones JS, Baker AJ et al (1999) The effect of short stature, portal hypertension, and cholestasis on growth hormone resistance in children with liver disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84:3277–3282
Leonis MA, Balistreri WF (2008) Evaluation and management of end-stage liver disease in children. Gastroenterology 134:1741–1751
Mieli-Vergani G, Heller S, Jara P et al (2009) Autoimmune hepatitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 49:158–164
Rappaport A, Wanless I (1993) Physioanatomic considerations. In: Schiff L, Schiff E (eds) Diseases of the liver. Lippincott, Philadelphia
Sokol RJ, Shepherd RW, Superina R, Bezerra JA et al (2007) Screening and outcomes in biliary atresia: summary of a National Institutes of Health workshop. Hepatology 46:566–581
Strople J, Lovell G, Heubi J (2009) Prevalence of subclinical vitamin K deficiency in cholestatic liver disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 49:78–84
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Vitola, B., Bezerra, J.A. (2012). The Liver and Biliary System. In: Elzouki, A.Y., Harfi, H.A., Nazer, H.M., Stapleton, F.B., Oh, W., Whitley, R.J. (eds) Textbook of Clinical Pediatrics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02202-9_202
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02202-9_202
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-02201-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-02202-9
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine