L4.5.4: Basic Scheme of the Hepatic Portal System

• BASIC SCHEME OF THE HEPATIC PORTAL SYSTEM

  ● HEPATIC PORTAL CIRCULATION

  ● HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN

  ● HEPATIC PORTAL SYSTEM
• ● HEPATIC PORTAL CIRCULATION

  ○ Formed by veins draining the digestive organs, spleen, and pancreas that empty into the hepatic portal vein
• ● HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN

  ○ Carries this blood to the liver, where it is processed before returning to systemic circulation

  ○ Receives blood from:

  ■ Splenic vein — receives blood from inferior mesenteric vein

  ■ Superior mesenteric vein

  ■ Left gastric vein
• ● HEPATIC PORTAL SYSTEM

  ○ Arterial blood in an artery goes to the stomach and intestines, where nutrients and toxins are absorbed in the first capillary bed

  ○ From there, deoxygenated blood goes to the hepatic portal vein and enters the liver

  ○ There, in the second capillary bed of the liver sinusoids nutrients and toxins leave and are processed by hepatocytes or liver cells

  ○ The venous blood goes to the hepatic vein and from there to the IVC