What is a Portal System?
A Portal System is a system of blood vessels that has a capillary network at each end. In other words, a portal system is an arrangement of blood vessels such that blood passes from a capillary bed into larger blood vessels and then into another capillary bed. Ordinarily, blood flows from a capillary bed into the venous system and eventually back into the heart. In the case of a portal system blood flows from a capillary bed into the venous system but then flows through another capillary bed before returning to the heart.
There are three portal systems in mammals:
- Hypophoseal Portal System
- Renal Portal System
- Hepatic Portal System
Hepatic Portal System
In the Hepatic Portal System, the blood is transferred from abdominal organs directly to the liver through a network of veins. As a result, chemicals ingested from the digestive tract are initially accessible to the liver. These organs include the lower esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, spleen, pancreas, and gallbladder. The hepatic portal vein is the largest vessel of the hepatic portal system. It is formed by the union of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins. The splenic vein drains the spleen, pancreas, and portions of the large intestine.
Table of Content
- What is a Portal System?
- What is the Hepatic Portal System?
- Veins that make up the Hepatic Portal System
- Anatomy of the Hepatic Portal System
- Hepatic Portal System Diagram
- Function of the Hepatic Portal System
- Significance Of Hepatic Portal System