
What veins are part of the portal venous system?
It gives off the right and left gastric veins, the cystic vein and the para-umbilical veins as tributaries. There is another human portal venous system, the hypophyseal portal system, which transports hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland.
How is the hepatic portal vein formed?
Formation. While there may be some variations between individuals, the hepatic portal vein is usually formed by the convergence of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein, referred to as the splenic-mesenteric confluence. In some individuals, the hepatic portal vein also directly joins with the inferior mesenteric vein.
Does the portal vein drain into the heart?
The portal vein is not a true vein, which means it does not drain into the heart. Instead, it brings nutrient-rich blood to the liver from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen.
Does the portal venous system regress during adulthood?
However, such valves regresses during adulthood. A portal venous system is one in which veins connect two capillary beds; or in other words drain one organ/organ system and pass into another organ/organ system rather than being directly returned to the heart. The hepatic portal vein is the only portal system many are aware of.

What makes up the portal system?
The portal vein forms from the confluence of the superior and inferior mesenteric veins, the splenic vein, gastric vein, and cystic vein. The portal vein enters the liver within the hepatoduodenal ligament, traveling posterior to the proper hepatic artery and the common bile duct.
What vessels make up the portal system?
The portal vein is usually formed by the confluence of the superior mesenteric, splenic veins, inferior mesenteric, left, right gastric veins and the pancreatic vein.
What are the 3 portal systems?
Examples of such systems include the hepatic portal system, the hypophyseal portal system, and (in non-mammals) the renal portal system.
What does portal venous blood contain?
The portal venous blood contains all of the products of digestion absorbed from the GI tract, so all useful and non-useful products are processed in the liver before being either released back into the hepatic veins which join the inferior vena cava just inferior to the diaphragm, or stored in the liver for later use.
How many portal systems are there in the body?
twocirculatory system Lower vertebrates have two so-called portal systems, areas of the venous system that begin in capillaries in tissues and join to form veins, which divide to produce another capillary network en route to the heart. They are called the hepatic (liver) and renal (kidneys) portal systems.
Which three veins are empty into the portal vein?
Explanation: The hepatic portal vein is formed from the superior mesenteric vein, the inferior mesenteric vein, and the splenic vein.
What is the portal system of circulation?
"A portal system is an arrangement by which blood collected from one set of capillaries passes through a large vessel or vessels, to another set of capillaries before returning to the systemic circulation."
What is the main portal vein?
The portal vein (PV) is the main vessel of the portal venous system (PVS), which drains the blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen to the liver. There are several variants affecting the PV, and quite a number of congenital and acquired pathologies.
What is a portal system of circulation quizlet?
Portal system. a system of veins that carries blood from one bed of capillaries to another bed of capillaries. hepatic portal system. carries blood from capillaries in the mesenteries, small intestine, spleen, stomach, and pancreas to liver.
What are the main tributaries of the portal vein?
The principal tributaries to the portal vein are the lienal vein, with blood from the stomach, the greater omentum (a curtain of membrane and fat that hangs down over the intestines), the pancreas, the large intestine, and the spleen; the superior mesenteric vein, with blood from the small intestine and part of the ...
Which veins form the portal vein?
The portal vein is formed behind the neck of the pancreas by the union of the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein (Fig. 2). The formative tributaries of the splenic vein, tributaries of superior mesenteric vein (gastrocolic trunk, first jejuna vein), and portal vein (left gastric vein) are easily seen.
Where are the four sites of the portal systemic anastomoses?
Portal venous systemsuperior mesenteric vein: drains blood mainly from small intestine.splenic vein: receives blood from short gastric, left gastroepiploic, inferior mesenteric, and pancreatic veins.right and left gastric veins: drain blood from the stomach and oesophagus.More items...
What major vessels take blood to the hepatic portal vein?
The liver receives blood from two sources: the hepatic portal vein (70%), and the hepatic arteries (30%). The hepatic portal vein receives blood specifically from the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and spleen, and carries it into the liver through the porta hepatis.
What is the portal system of circulation?
"A portal system is an arrangement by which blood collected from one set of capillaries passes through a large vessel or vessels, to another set of capillaries before returning to the systemic circulation."
What is portal system?
A portal system is a system in which the veins start and end in capillaries. It delivers nutrient-rich blood to the liver for purification before it is carried to the heart.
What is a portal system quizlet?
Portal system. a system of veins that carries blood from one bed of capillaries to another bed of capillaries. hepatic portal system. carries blood from capillaries in the mesenteries, small intestine, spleen, stomach, and pancreas to liver.
How does blood flow to the liver?
Blood flow to the liver is unique in that it receives both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. As a result, the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and perfusion pressure of portal blood are lower than in other organs of the body. Blood passes from branches of the portal vein through cavities between hepatocellular sinusoids. Blood also flows from branches of the hepatic artery and mixes in the sinusoids to supply the hepatocytes with oxygen. This mixture percolates through the sinusoids and collects in a central vein which drains into the hepatic veins. The hepatic veins subsequently drain into the inferior vena cava.
What is the portal venous system?
The portal venous system refers to the vessels involved in the drainage of the capillary beds of the GI tract and spleen into the capillary bed of the liver. Blood flow to the liver is unique in that it receives both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. As a result, the partial pressure of oxygen ...
Where does blood flow through the portal vein?
Blood passes from branches of the portal vein through cavities between hepatocellular sinusoids. Blood also flows from branches of the hepatic artery and mixes in the sinusoids to supply the hepatocytes with oxygen.
What causes fluid to be pushed into the abdomen?
Elevated portal venous pressures and sodium retention in cirrhosis can also cause seepage of fluid into the abdominal cavity. This fluid, called “ascites” can cause increased abdominal girth. Increasing ascites can push on the diaphragm, abdominal wall, and stomach, causing shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and early satiety. 7
What causes congestion in the portal vein?
Liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases may disrupt the flow in the portal vein. In cirrhosis, distortion of the liver architecture causes congestion of blood in the portal vein, raising the blood pressure. This state, called portal hypertension, is responsible for the major complications of cirrhosis ( ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, ...
Why does hepatic encephalopathy cause elevated portal pressure?
8 Hepatic encephalopathy results because elevated portal pressure forces blood away from the liver. Toxic substances—normally processed by the liver—are allowed to circulate throughout the body, affecting brain function.
What is the role of the liver in the body?
The liver participates in the metabolism of ingested carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It also detoxifies many harmful substances (drugs and toxins) which are absorbed by the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Nutrients and other substances that are absorbed in the intestines travel via the portal vein to the liver, where they can be processed before being released to the rest of the body.
What is portal vein?
The portal vein is a blood vessel that delivers blood to the liver. By. Rony Kampalath, MD. Rony Kampalath, MD, is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and previously worked as a primary care physician. He is an assistant professor at the University of California at Irvine Medical Center, where he also practices.
What is the name of the vein that carries blood to the heart?
The right and left portal veins then branch further to supply the different lobes of the liver. Most veins in the body, called systemic veins, carry blood toward the heart. The portal vein and its contributing veins are different ...
What is it called when a child has an absent portal vein?
Rarely, children may be born with an absent or underdeveloped portal vein. This condition, known as congenital agenesis of the portal vein, may be associated with abnormalities of the liver or cardiovascular system. 2 Symptoms may be caused by blood flowing directly from the intestines and spleen into the systemic veins (portosystemic shunts).
What is the portal vein?
Portal vein. The hepatic portal vein is a vessel that moves blood from the spleen and gastrointestinal tract to the liver. It is approximately three to four inches in length and is usually formed by the merging of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins behind the upper edge of the head of the pancreas.
What is it called when you have high blood pressure in the portal vein?
Abnormally high blood pressure in the portal vein is known as portal hypertension.
What is portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension is one of the potential serious complications of liver cirrhosis, which is a condition where normal liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Last medically reviewed on January 21, 2018.
How long is the splenic vein?
It is approximately three to four inches in length and is usually formed by the merging of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins behind the upper edge of the head of the pancreas. In some individuals, the inferior mesenteric vein may enter this intersection instead.
Which veins split before entering the liver?
In most people, the portal vein splits into left and right veins before entering the liver. The right vein then branches off into anterior and superior veins.
What is the confluence of the splenic and mesenteric veins?
While there may be some variations between individuals, the hepatic portal vein is usually formed by the convergence of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein, referred to as the splenic-mesenteric confluence. In some individuals, the hepatic portal vein also directly joins with the inferior mesenteric vein.
What is the hepatic portal vein?
This vein is part of the hepatic portal system that receives all of the blood draining from the abdominal digestive tract, as well as from the pancreas, gallbladder, and spleen. ‘Hepatic’ means of or relating to the liver, therefore the hepatic portal vein is a blood vessel that sends nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract ...
What is the role of the hepatic portal system in the body?
Additionally, the hepatic portal system plays a key role in cleansing the blood of the bacteria and toxins that are picked up by the blood while it is being perfused through the intestines.
What is portal hypertension?
Portal hypertension is defined as an increase in blood pressure in the portal vein, and is a major complication of liver disease (most commonly cirrhosis, often from excessive alcohol consumption). Notable characteristics of chronic liver disease can include:
Which veins are responsible for lipid metabolism?
The left and right gastric veins, which form an arc along the lesser curvature of the stomach, also empty into the hepatic portal vein. Broadly, the hepatocytes that process the blood play a large role in protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and detoxification.
Which veins are associated with the intestinal veins?
Other than the previously mentioned hepatic and related veins, the principal associated intestinal veins are the inferior mesenteric vein, superior mesenteric vein, and the splenic vein (which converges with the pancreatic veins before it meets the inferior mesenteric vein, and ultimately meets the superior mesenteric vein). The left and right gastric veins, which form an arc along the lesser curvature of the stomach, also empty into the hepatic portal vein. Broadly, the hepatocytes that process the blood play a large role in protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and detoxification.Solidify your knowledge about the hepatic portal vein
Where does the portal vein go before the liver?
However, before reaching the liver, the portal vein bisects into the left and right, with each side further dividing from venous branches into portal venules. These portal venule branches run alongside hepatic arterioles in the spaces between the liver lobules, and these two vessels, along with a common bile duct, form the hepatic portal triad.
What is a Portal System?
A portal system is a system in which the veins start and end in capillaries. It delivers nutrient-rich blood to the liver for purification before it is carried to the heart.
What is the hepatic portal vein?
The hepatic portal vein is the part of the hepatic portal system. It carries blood from the intestines, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen and delivers it to the liver. It contains blood with nutrients and toxins after digestion.
What is the portal vein?
However, there are other systems of veins in the body that are referred to as the portal venous system. The hepatic portal vein is the largest vein in the abdominal cavity.
Why is the liver important?
It is important since it empties blood from the gastrointestinal tract into the liver. Before releasing into the bloodstream, the liver absorbs nutrients further for processing or storage for cellular use. Also read: Human Heart. For more details on Hepatic Portal System, visit BYJU’S website or download BYJU’S app.
What is the function of the alimentary canal?
It carries out the main function of further detoxifying deoxygenated blood before reaching the heart. This system is designed to eliminate toxic substances out ...
Which system of veins transports blood from the digestive tract to the liver?
The hepatic portal system is the system of veins that transports blood from the digestive tract to the liver. It consists of the hepatic portal ve in and other veins that drain into the hepatic portal vein , viz. the superior mesenteric vein, the inferior mesenteric vein, and the splenic vein. The hepatic portal vein carries blood rich in nutrients and toxins that are processed in the liver and then the hepatic vein carries the blood to the heart through the systemic circulation.
Which vein carries blood to the liver?
The hepatic portal vein carries nutrient-rich blood from the intestine and other parts such as the gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver, whereas the hepatic vein carries deoxygenated blood from the liver to the vena cava. The hepatic portal vein brings the blood to the liver, whereas the hepatic vein transports blood from the liver to the systemic circulation and back to the heart.
Why are portal venous systems considered venous?
Portal venous systems are considered venous because the blood vessels that join the two capillary beds are either veins or venules . Examples of such systems include the hepatic portal system, the hypophyseal portal system, and (in non-mammals) the renal portal system.
What is the portal venous system?
In the circulatory system of animals, a portal venous system occurs when a capillary bed pools into another capillary bed through veins, without first going through the heart. Both capillary beds and the blood vessels that connect them are considered part of the portal venous system.
Which system transports hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland?
There is another human portal venous system, the hypophyseal portal system, which transports hormones from the hypothalamus to the pituitary gland.
Which organ divides into right and left branches?
On approaching the liver, the portal vein divides into right and left branches which enter the liver parenchyma. It gives off the right and left gastric veins, the cystic vein and the para-umbilical veins as tributaries. There is another human portal venous system, the hypophyseal portal system, which transports hormones from ...
Where does the portal vein go?
Ascending towards the liver, the portal vein passes posterior to the superior part of the duodenum and enters the right margin of the lesser omentum. It is anterior to the omental foramen and posterior to both the bile duct, which is slightly to the right, and the hepatic artery proper, which is slightly to the left.
Which system delivers blood to the liver?
In humans. The human hepatic portal system delivers about three-fourths of the blood going to the liver. The final common pathway for transport of venous blood from spleen, pancreas, gallbladder and the abdominal portion of the gastrointestinal tract (with the exception of the inferior part of the anal canal and sigmoid colon) ...
