Light and Electron Microscopic Studies on the Development of Periportal Bile Ducts of the Human Embryo

In order to clarify the development of periportal bile duct in the human embryo, the liver tissue of a 13 week‐old human embryo was studied using the electron as well as light microscope. The findings observed in this study lead to the following conclusions: The biliary epithelial cell originates from the periportal hepatoblast under certain influences of the connective tissue. The periportal bile duct is formed by the proliferation of the biliary epithelial cells surrounding the biliary space. The so‐called intermediate cell between the biliary epithelial cell and the hepatoblast is not recognized in the human fetal liver of 13 weeks gestation.