Final answer:
Ito cells are located in the Space of Disse and are involved in fat metabolism and vitamin A storage, while Kupffer cells are macrophages residing along the sinusoids responsible for phagocytosing various particles. Both cell types are integral to the liver's functioning, facilitating processes such as filtration and detoxification.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ito cells, also known as hepatic stellate cells or perisinusoidal cells, reside in the Space of Disse, which is a perisinusoidal space in the liver. These cells are involved in the storage of vitamin A and fat metabolism, and can transform into myofibroblasts to participate in liver fibrosis. On the other hand, Kupffer cells reside along the sinusoids. Kupffer cells are specialized macrophages that form part of the mononuclear phagocyte system and are responsible for the phagocytosis of pathogens, as well as dead or dying red and white blood cells and other foreign matter that enter the sinusoids.
These different cell types illustrate the liver's complexity and its ability to perform various critical physiological functions including filtration, metabolism, and detoxification. The unique structural features of the hepatic sinusoids, such as their fenestrated endothelium and the lack of a complete basement membrane, allow for the efficient exchange of substances between the blood and hepatocytes, as well as ease of access for the Kupffer cells to perform their scavenging role.