Stellate phagocytic liver cells are called what?

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Stellate phagocytic liver cells are called what?

Kupffer cells are the liver’s resident macrophages that line the sinusoids and perform phagocytosis. They patrol the blood in the portal circulation, engulf bacteria, old blood cells, and debris, and help initiate immune responses by presenting antigens. The term “stellate” here describes their shape and location along the sinusoidal lining, not to be confused with hepatic stellate (Ito) cells that store vitamin A and contribute to fibrosis. Hepatocytes are the main metabolic parenchymal cells, not phagocytes; endothelial cells line the sinusoids but do not serve as the primary phagocytes.

Kupffer cells are the liver’s resident macrophages that line the sinusoids and perform phagocytosis. They patrol the blood in the portal circulation, engulf bacteria, old blood cells, and debris, and help initiate immune responses by presenting antigens. The term “stellate” here describes their shape and location along the sinusoidal lining, not to be confused with hepatic stellate (Ito) cells that store vitamin A and contribute to fibrosis. Hepatocytes are the main metabolic parenchymal cells, not phagocytes; endothelial cells line the sinusoids but do not serve as the primary phagocytes.

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