Portal circulation

Portal circulation, i.e. hepatic portal system, is a functional component of hepatic circulation. It's comprised of the portal vein, which leads nutrient-rich blood from the upaired organs of the abdomial cavity to the liver, where it breaks down into the secondary capillary network of the hepatic sinusoids, and then flows through the hepatic veins into the inferior vena cava and into the heart.

In addition to the hepatic portal circulation, there is another similar system in the body - the hypophyseal portal system.

Collection area
The collection area of ​​the hepatic portal system are the unpaired organs of the abdominal cavity.

These include:


 * 1) stomach (v. mesenterica sup. + v. gastrica dx. + sin. -> v. portae)
 * 2) pancreas (v. mesenterica sup. -> v. portae)
 * 3) small intestine (v. mesenterica sup.)
 * 4) colon (v. mesenterica sup. (ascendending and transverse), v. mesenterica inf. (descending) -> splenic vein -> v. portae)
 * 5) rectum (v. rectalis sup. (ampulla recti) -> v. mesenterica inf. -> v. splenica -> v. portae)
 * 6) spleen (v. splenica -> v. portae)
 * 7) galbladder. (v. cystica -> v. portae)

Blood from these organs is rich in nutrients, but poor in oxygen. For this reason, in addition to the functional circulation, systemic circulation must be introduced into the liver. Systemic circulation is supplied by proper hepatic artery (or accessory hepatic artery in 30% of cases).

Related articles

 * Portal vein
 * Portocaval anastomoses
 * Cavocaval anastomoses
 * Portal hypertension