Author
Abstract
The aim of study is provide basic data about the histological features of the liver of
local Iraqi ducks and to study the glycogen content in the cytoplasm of the hepatocyte. The
anatomical examination showed that liver laid cranial part of the abdominal cavity caudally
and ventrally to the heart and associated to the gizzard. The liver of Mallard is divided into
two undivided lobes right and left lobes (the right lobe is larger than left lobe). Histological
examination revealed that the liver consist of several lobules separated from each other by
thin trabeculae of connective tissue extend from delicate capsule that enclosed the liver. The
basic unit of the parenchyma of liver is hepatocyte which arranged in plates or cords like that
radiated around the central vein and between these cords there is sinusoids lined by alayer of
fenestrated endothelial cells and Kupffer's cells. In the boundary of each lobule showed portal
area which consist of hepatic artery; hepatic vein and bile duct lining by cuboidal cells. The
histochemical study showed formed differ size of glycogen granules in cytoplasm of
hepatocytes and in some speciment the glycogen large granules arranged around the central
vein because the bird in starvation period .the liver of Mallard generally is closely similar
to the liver of another avian birds and vertebrates
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