Definition of HEPATIC PORTAL SYSTEM

: a group of veins that carry blood from the capillaries of the stomach, intestine, spleen, and pancreas to the sinusoids of the liver The Hepatic Portal System

The hepatic portal system is a series of veins that carry blood from the capillaries of the stomach, intestine, spleen, and pancreas to capillaries in the liver. It is part of the bodys filtration system. Its main function is to deliver de-oxygenated blood to the liver to be detoxified further before it returns to the heart.

The hepatic portal system consists of:

Hepatic portal vein: This is the main vein connected to the liver. It forms at the connection of the inferior and superior mesenteric veins. Inferior mesenteric vein: This vein takes blood from the colon and rectum and connects with the portal vein. Superior mesenteric vein: This drains blood from the small intestine and connects with the hepatic portal vein. Gastrosplenic vein: This tributary is formed by the union of the splenic vein from the spleen and the gastric vein from the stomach. It joins with the mesenteric vein inside the pancreas. The hepatic portal system is designed to rid the body of toxins, and it cannot detect those that are designed to help it. Some drugs must be taken under the tongue, through the skin, or via suppository to avoid entering the hepatic portal system and being prematurely metabolized in the liver before reaching general circulation. The Hepatic Portal System The hepatic portal system is the system of veins comprising the hepatic portal vein and its tributaries. It is responsible for directing blood from parts of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the liver. Substances absorbed in the small intestine travel first to the liver for processing before continuing to the heart. Many drugs that are absorbed through the GI tract are substantially metabolized by the liver before reaching general circulation.

Blood flow to the liver is unique in that it receives both oxygenated and (partially) deoxygenated blood. Blood passes from branches of the portal vein through cavities between "plates" of hepatocytes called 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 (Figure 2). A liver sinusoid is a type of sinusoidal blood vessel (with fenestrated, discontinuous endothelium) that serves as a location for the oxygen-rich blood from the hepatic artery and the nutrient-rich blood from the portal vein. Hepatocytes are separated from the sinusoids by the space of Disse. Kupffer cells are located inside the sinusoids and can take up and destroy foreign material such as bacteria. This blood then collects in a central vein which drains into the hepatic vein. The hepatic vein subsequently drains into the inferior vena cava. The hepatic artery provides 30 to 40% of the oxygen to the liver, while only accounting for 25% of the total liver blood flow. The rest comes from the partially deoxygenated blood from the portal vein. Interestingly, the liver consumes about 20% of the total body oxygen when at rest. That is why the total liver blood flow is quite high, at about 1 liter a minute and up to two liters a minute. That is on average one-fourth of the average cardiac output at rest.

The function of the hepatic portal circulation is to transport blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver. This allows the liver to clean the toxins out of the blood before it is delivered to the heart.
The hepatic portal system is an essential part of the human circulatory system. Understanding how it works can also help you in improving your understanding of human anatomy in general. The hepatic portal system consists of numerous veins and tributaries, including the hepatic portal vein. While the hepatic portal system is also often referred to as the portal venous system, it is important to note that there are also other venous systems in the human body that are also referred to as portal venous systems.

The hepatic portal system is one of many primary components of the circulatory system that can be found in the abdominal cavity. The hepatic portal vein is one of the largest veins in the area and it carries blood toliver from the spleen and the gastrointestinal tract. The hepatic vein begins where the splenic veins and the superior mesenteric meet. The hepatic vein also drains blood coming from the cystic veins as well as the inferior mesenteric gastric veins. The hepatic vein is one of the most important portal venous systems in the human body and it is integral to the circulatory system in general. There are many medical conditions and ailments that can affect the hepatic portal system. It is important to diagnose these ailments as early as possible because leaving these problems untreated can cause serious medical conditions and, even worse, death. Portal hypertension is an example of a condition that can affect the hepatic portal system. This is often caused by cirrhosis and can lead to more serious problems if left unchecked. Since the portal venous system drains blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver, this means that any compounds and substances that are absorbed from the small intestines will pass through the liver before going back to the heart. However, it is important to note that not all of the blood coming from the gastrointestinal tract passes through the hepatic portal system. Some of the blood from the gastrointestinal

tract travels through other avenues of the circulatory system. Aside from that, blood coming from thepancreas and the spleen also pass through the hepatic portal system. The hepatic portal system drains blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver for a very good reason. This is because many of the drugs and medications that humans take need to be metabolized by your liver before it is passed on to the rest of your body. This process is often referred to as the first pass effect. This is an important function of the human circulatory system.