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Hepatic portal system

In human anatomy, the hepatic portal system or portal venous system is the system of veins comprising the portal vein and its tributaries. The other portal venous system in the body is the hypophyseal portal system.[1]

Hepatic portal system

Hepatic portal vein

Splenic vein

Superior mesenteric vein

Inferior mesenteric vein

Large veins that are considered part of the portal venous system are the:


The superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein come together to form the actual hepatic portal vein. The inferior mesenteric vein connects in the majority of people on the splenic vein, but in some people, it is known to connect on the portal vein or the superior mesenteric vein.


Roughly, the portal venous system corresponds to areas supplied by the celiac trunk, the superior mesenteric artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery.

Systemic venous system

Pulmonary venous system

Hepatic portal system

Kimball Pages, Hepatic portal system

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