Which liver cell resides within sinusoids and performs phagocytosis?

Which liver cell resides within sinusoids and performs phagocytosis?

• A. Ito cells
• B. Kupffer cells
• C. Hepatocytes
• D. Endothelial cells

Answer: (B)

Kupffer cells are the liver’s resident macrophages that line the sinusoids. They sit along the luminal side of the fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium and actively phagocytose bacteria, debris, and aging blood cells as blood flows through the liver. This phagocytic role is a key part of the liver’s reticuloendothelial system, helping to clean the blood before it returns to systemic circulation. Ito (stellate) cells, by contrast, reside in the space of Disse and store vitamin A (and can contribute to fibrosis when activated). Hepatocytes are the main parenchymal cells of the liver, performing metabolic, synthetic, and detoxification tasks and are organized in plates, not inside the sinusoidal lumen. Endothelial cells line the sinusoids and form their vascular barrier, but they do not perform phagocytosis.

Kupffer cells are the liver’s resident macrophages that line the sinusoids. They sit along the luminal side of the fenestrated sinusoidal endothelium and actively phagocytose bacteria, debris, and aging blood cells as blood flows through the liver. This phagocytic role is a key part of the liver’s reticuloendothelial system, helping to clean the blood before it returns to systemic circulation.

Ito (stellate) cells, by contrast, reside in the space of Disse and store vitamin A (and can contribute to fibrosis when activated). Hepatocytes are the main parenchymal cells of the liver, performing metabolic, synthetic, and detoxification tasks and are organized in plates, not inside the sinusoidal lumen. Endothelial cells line the sinusoids and form their vascular barrier, but they do not perform phagocytosis.