In the acinus of the sheep and mouse liver, lymphatic vessels
are restricted to the portal tracts. Vessels less
than about 25 μm across form a network around portal venules, and
are closely associated with the limiting
plate of hepatocytes. The perisinusoidal space of Disse is continuous
with the interstitial space of the portal
tracts at the origin of the sinusoids. It seems likely that excess
interstitial fluid derived from the sinusoids
flows along the perisinusoidal space of Disse to enter the portal
tracts near the portal venules, and then
enters the small lymphatics which lie adjacent to those venules. It then
enters the larger vessels, which are
adjacent to hepatic arterioles and bile ductules.