Within each ascinus, capillary-like vessels called sinusoids support a single layer of hepatocytes. Blood flow is quite slow in the sinusoid, taking a few seconds to travel the 1–2 mm distance. During this transit period, hepatocytes take up toxins
for processing and secrete serum proteins. Hepatocytes have very high oxygen requirements and so are situated about 2 mm from the lumen of the sinusoid