The hepatic lobule is a building block of the liver tissue, consisting of portal triads, hepatocytes arranged in linear cords between a capillary network, and a central vein.

Each zone is centered on the line connecting two portal triads and extends outwards to the two adjacent central veins.

In the smaller portal triads, the four vessels lie in a network of connective tissue and are surrounded on all sides by hepatocytes.

The ring of hepatocytes abutting the connective tissue of the triad is called the periportal limiting plate.

[10] Fluid (residual blood plasma) that is not taken up by hepatocytes drains into the periportal space, and is taken up by the lymphatic vessels that accompany the other portal triad constituents.