1.

The portal venous system is responsible for directing blood from parts of the
gastrointestinal tract to the liver. Substances absorbed in the small intestine travel first to
the liver for processing before continuing to the heart. Not all of the gastrointestinal tract
is part of this system. The system extends from about the lower portion of the esophagus
to the upper part of the anal canal. It also includes venous drainage from the spleen and
pancreas.
Many drugs that are absorbed through the GI tract are substantially metabolized by the liver
before reaching general circulation. This is known as the first pass effect. As a consequence,
certain drugs can only be taken via certain routes. For example, nitroglycerin cannot be
swallowed because the liver would inactivate the medication, but it can be taken under the
tongue and thus is absorbed in a way that bypasses the portal venous system.
Blood flow to the liver is unique in that it receives both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. As
a result, the partial pressure of oxygen (pO
2
) and perfusion pressure of portal blood are lower
than in other organs of the body. 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 and collects in a central vein which drains into the hepatic vein. The
hepatic vein subsequently drains into the inferior vena cava.
Large veins that are considered part of the portal venous system are the:
Hepatic portal vein
Splenic vein
Roughly, the portal venous system corresponds to areas supplied by the celiac trunk, the superior
mesenteric artery, and the inferior mesenteric

Hepatic Portal Circulation
2. The veins of the hepatic portal circulation drain the digestive organs, spleen, and
pancreas and deliver the blood to the liver via hepatic portal vein. As blood percolates
through the liver, some of the nutrients are stored or processed in various ways for release
to the general circulation. The liver in turn is drained by the hepatic veins that enter the
inferior vena cava.
The inferior mesenteric vein, draining the distal part of the large intestine, joins the splenic vein,
which drains the spleen, pancreas and stomach. The splenic vein and the superior meseteric vein,
which drains the small intestine and the proximal colon, unite to form the hepatic portal vein.
The left gastric vein, which drains the lesser curvature of the stomach, drains directly into the
hepatic portal vein.
Hepatic Portal Circulation
3. The veins of the hepatic portal circulation drain the digestive organs, spleen, and
pancreas and deliver the blood to the liver via hepatic portal vein. As blood percolates
through the liver, some of the nutrients are stored or processed in various ways for release
to the general circulation. The liver in turn is drained by the hepatic veins that enter the
inferior vena cava.
The inferior mesenteric vein, draining the distal part of the large intestine, joins the splenic vein,
which drains the spleen, pancreas and stomach. The splenic vein and the superior meseteric vein,
which drains the small intestine and the proximal colon, unite to form the hepatic portal vein.
The left gastric vein, which drains the lesser curvature of the stomach, drains directly into the
hepatic portal vein.
Hepatic Portal Circulation Process
4. The capillaries in the liver remove some of the substances absorbed in the intestines.
They remove glucose for its conversion to glycogen, allow for the conversion of
monosaccharides (simple sugars) into glucose, convert amino acids into urea, and remove
drugs from the circulatory system for later excretion.
This process allows the liver to serve as a screen for the blood. After the liver carries out is
circulatory functions, the concentrations of substances in the blood should be close to normal.
The liver also carries out important functions between meals. This organ releases more glucose
by performing glycogenolysis (conversion of glycogen to glucose) and converting amino acids to
glucose. This allows the body to use glucose properly between meals.






















5. Introduction to hepatic portal circulation
The hepatic portal system is also known as portal venous system, receives blood from parts of the
gastrointestinal tract (GI) to the liver. Digested substances are absorbed in the small intestine and first
travel to the liver for processing before sent to the heart for distribution.
Hepatic portal system consists of the heart, liver, hepatic portal vein, stomach, small intestine, and large
intestine.
The liver is a specialized organ that has a double blood supply, the oxygenated blood to the liver is
carried through right and left hepatic arteries and venous blood from the gastrointestinal tract is carried
to the liver through the portal vein.
The venous blood from the gastrointestinal tract drains into the superior and inferior mesenteric veins.
Superior and inferior mesenteric veins are then joined to form portal vein by the splenic vein just
posterior to the neck of the pancreas.
Portal vein then splits into right and left branches, each supplies blood about half of the liver.
Blood enters into the liver and drains into the hepatic sinusoids. , macrophages (Kupffer cells) present in
sinusoids screens and remove any pathogens if present.
The plasma is filtered via the endothelial lining of the sinusoids and bathes the hepatocyte cells. These
cells contain huge numbers of enzymes which are capable of breaking down and metabolizing most of
the substances that has been absorbed.
The capillaries present in the liver remove the substances absorbed in the intestines. They remove
glucose and convert it to glycogen, converts monosaccharides into glucose, convert amino acids into
urea. Liver also absorbs drugs from the circulatory system and process it for excretion.
The portal venous blood contains all the products of digestion absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract,
so both the useful and non-useful products are processed in the liver before being either released back
into the hepatic veins which join the inferior vena cava, or stored in the liver for later use.
Diseases associated with hepatic portal system include portal hypertension and pylephlebitis.