What is the functional unit of the liver? In it, blood flows through sinusoids and bile flows through canaliculi.

The functional unit of the liver is called the liver lobule. The liver lobule is a hexagonal structure consisting of hepatocytes (liver cells) arranged in rows around a central vein.

Here are the steps of how blood and bile flow through it:

1. Blood enters the liver lobule through branches of the hepatic artery and portal vein at each corner of the lobule.

2. The blood then flows through sinusoids, which are small blood vessels that are lined with hepatocytes. The sinusoids filter the blood, removing toxins and waste products, and also adding important nutrients.

3. The cleaned blood is collected in the central vein of the lobule, which then joins other veins to form the hepatic vein. The hepatic vein carries the blood out of the liver and back to the heart.

4. Meanwhile, the hepatocytes produce bile, which is a substance needed for digestion. The bile flows in the opposite direction to the blood, moving through tiny channels called canaliculi.

5. The canaliculi lead to bile ducts, which join together to form the hepatic duct. The hepatic duct carries the bile out of the liver and into the gallbladder, where it is stored until needed for digestion.