Perisinusoidal space

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title: "Perisinusoidal space" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["liver-anatomy", "histology"] description: "Location in liver between hepatocyte and sinusoid" topic_path: "science/biology" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perisinusoidal_space" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Location in liver between hepatocyte and sinusoid ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox microanatomy"]

Field	Value
Name	Perisinusoidal space
Latin	spatium perisinusoideum
Image	Sinusoid.jpeg
Caption	Sinusoid of a rat liver with fenestrated endothelial cells. Fenestrae are approx 100 nm diameter, and the sinusoidal width 5 µm. Scanning electron micrograph by Robin Fraser, University of Otago.
Image2	Hepatic structure2.svg
Caption2	Basic liver structure
Location	Liver
::

| Name = Perisinusoidal space | Latin = spatium perisinusoideum | Image = Sinusoid.jpeg | Caption = Sinusoid of a rat liver with fenestrated endothelial cells. Fenestrae are approx 100 nm diameter, and the sinusoidal width 5 µm. Scanning electron micrograph by Robin Fraser, University of Otago. | Image2 = Hepatic structure2.svg | Caption2 = Basic liver structure | Precursor = | System = | Artery = | Vein = | Nerve = | Lymph = | Location = Liver The perisinusoidal space (or space of Disse) is a space between a hepatocyte, and a sinusoid in the liver. It contains the blood plasma. Microvilli of hepatocytes extend into this space, allowing proteins and other plasma components from the sinusoids to be absorbed by the hepatocytes. Fenestration and discontinuity of the sinusoid endothelium facilitates this transport. The perisinusoidal space also contains hepatic stellate cells (also known as Ito cells or lipocytes), which store vitamin A in characteristic lipid droplets.

This space may be obliterated in liver disease, leading to decreased uptake by hepatocytes of nutrients and wastes such as bilirubin.

The Space of Disse is named for the German anatomist Joseph Disse (1852–1912).

Pathophysiology

Fibrosis

Liver injury from a number of causes can activate the hepatic stellate cells into transdifferentiated and prolific myofibroblasts. The myofibroblasts synthesize and secrete components of the extracellular matrix including collagen into the perisinusoidal space. This in turn promotes the development of fibrosis, and continuing fibrosis is thought to be responsible for the development of cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

References

References

1. (1999). "Robbins pathologic basis of disease". Saunders.
2. (2018). "Robbins basic pathology". Elsevier.
3. Haubrich WS. (2004). "Disse of the space of Disse". Gastroenterology.
4. (February 2012). "Update on hepatic stellate cells: pathogenic role in liver fibrosis and novel isolation techniques.". Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
5. (October 2023). "Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the heterogeneity and intercellular communication of hepatic stellate cells and macrophages during liver fibrosis.". MedComm.

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