Normal Adult Human Liver Biopsy

Table 1

The Normal Adult Human Liver Biopsy: A Quantitative Reference Standard

table 1. Dimensions and Fragments of Liver Biopsies (n = 16)

	Average ± SD	Range

Tissue length (cm)	1.8 ± 0.8	0.6-3.4
Tissue width (mm)	0.9 ± 0.3	0.4-1.4
Tissue area (mm²)	16 ± 11	3-37
Tissue fragments (pieces)	7 ± 3	2-13
Partial tears in tissue	9 ± 4	4-18

NOTE. The dimensions, area, and fragmentation of each biopsy are shown, along with incomplete separation of tissue fragments (partial tears). Partial tears were mostly in the immediate vicinity of terminal hepatic veins, rarely involving portal tracts. The range for each numerical parameter is given for the set of 16 biopsies.