Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Hepatic portal vein
Vena portae hepatis
- Origin
- Formed posterior to the neck of the pancreas (L1-L2) by the junction of the superior mesenteric vein and splenic vein
- Insertion
- Ascends within the hepatoduodenal ligament to the porta hepatis, bifurcating into left and right portal branches
- Function
- Delivers ~75% of hepatic blood supply, transporting nutrient-rich, deoxygenated blood from the entire gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and spleen directly to liver sinusoids for first-pass metabolism
- Innervation
- Hepatic autonomic plexus
- Movement & chain
- Hepatopetal continuous venous flow (normal velocity 15-30 cm/s)
- Palpation
- Evaluated via abdominal Doppler ultrasonography
- Clinical
- Portal hypertension (defined as hepatic venous pressure gradient HVPG >5 mmHg; clinically significant >10 mmHg causing esophageal varices, ascites, splenomegaly, and hepatic encephalopathy), portal vein thrombosis (pylephlebitis).
- Segmental innervation
- T6-T9 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Doppler surveillance of portal flow direction (hepatopetal vs reversed hepatofugal flow), acute variceal hemorrhage protocol (IV vasoactive drugs, endoscopic banding), TIPS procedure management
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)