| Term: | hepatic sinusoid ito cell |
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| Note: | This page represents a term created by the combination ("post-composition") of two ontology terms. For more information on the individual terms, click the hyperlinked name. |
| Name: | hepatic sinusoid |
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| Synonyms: | hepatic sinusoids |
| Definition: | Wide thin-walled blood vessels in the liver. The terminal branches of the hepatic portal vein and hepatic artery empty into the sinusoids where the blood mixes. In mammals they have neither venous or arterial markers. Sinusoids are scattered throughout the parenchyma and appear small and round. |
| Ontology: | Anatomy Ontology [ZFA:0005091] |
| Name: | ito cell |
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| Synonyms: | hepatic stellate cell, perisinusoidal cell |
| Definition: | A cell that is found in the perisinusoidal space of the liver that is capable of multiple roles including storage of retinol, presentation of antigen to T cells (including CD1d-restricted NKT cells), and upon activation, production of extracellular matrix components that can contribute to liver fibrosis. This activated state has a myofibroblast-like phenotype. |
| Ontology: | Anatomy Ontology [ZFA:0009279] |