Which type of cells are known as the phagocytic cells of the liver?

Kupffer's cells are the specialized phagocytic cells located in the liver. They are a type of macrophage that plays a crucial role in the immune system, particularly in filtering and processing blood that comes from the digestive tract. These cells are responsible for detecting and engulfing pathogens, dead cells, and other debris, which helps to maintain hepatic health and systemic immunity.

Hepatocytes, while essential for liver function, are primarily involved in metabolic processes, bile production, and detoxification rather than phagocytosis. Sinusoidal cells are another type of liver cell but are more accurately described as endothelial cells lining the sinusoids, rather than functioning as phagocytes. Stellate cells, also known as Ito cells, primarily store vitamin A and play a role in liver fibrosis but do not participate in phagocytosis like Kupffer's cells do. Therefore, the recognition of Kupffer's cells as the key phagocytic agents within the liver underscores their importance in the organ's role in immune surveillance and maintaining overall metabolic homeostasis.