structure of the liver

• hepatic artery

  • oxygenated blood from the heart travels from aorta via the hepatic artery into the liver
• hepatic portal vein

  • deoxygenated blood from the digestive system enters the liver via the hepatic portal vein
  • this blood is rich in the products of digestion
• hepatic vein

  • blood enters liver via hepatic vein.
  • hepatic vein rejoins vena cava and the blood returns to the body's normal circulation
• fourth vessel

  • connected to the liver
  • not a blood vessel it is a bile duct
  • bile duct carries bile from the liver to the gall bladder where it is stored until required