Chapter 11- Portal System Flashcards
Does the Portal vein connect to aorta or IVC?
Neither, it ends at a cellular level.
Do the hepatic veins connect to the aorta or IVC?
The hepatic veins drain the liver into the IVC
Describe how the Portal Vein will look sonographically
The portal vein has very hyperechoic walls due to fibrous capsule and high collagen content.
Inside of the vessel should be anechoic.
What is the normal diameter of the Portal vein
13 mm
What three vessels make the portal triad
Portal vein, Common Bile Duct, Hepatic Artery
What Tributaries create the portal vein?
Splenic Vein, Inferior Mesenteric Vein, and Superior Mesenteric Vein
Are the Portal Veins Inter-segmental or Intra-segmental?
Intra-Segmental. They flow within the segments
Are the Hepatic Veins Inter-segmental or Intra-segmental?
Inter-Segmental. They flow between the segments.
Where does the portal vein arise from?
It rises from the vitelline network and punctures through the fibrous Glisson’s capsule of the liver and is sheathed with the fibrous lining.
What is the function of the portal vein?
It brings blood from the bowel and abdominal organs to the liver for metabolism and detoxification
Where is the liver’s main blood supply (about 70%) from?
The portal vein
Portal system drains blood from what organs?
The Spleen, Pancreas, Gallbladder,
and GI tract (not rectum)
What does the Superior Mesenteric Vein do?
Courses from inferior to superior. It Drains the small intestine and portions of the large intestine
What does the Inferior Mesenteric Vein do?
It courses inferior to superior and drains the large intestine and empties blood into the splenic vein. It can drain directly into the SMV or the Splenic Confluence
What does the splenic vein do?
It courses medial to lateral draining the spleen.
What structure is used as a landmark for the pancreas and why?
The Portal System, specifically the splenic vein because it is directly posterior to the pancreas.
What is the physiology of the Portal System?
It brings nutrient-rich blood from the abdominal organs and bowel to the liver for metabolism and detoxification.
The Main Portal Vein courses superiorly. How long is the MPV?
5-6 cm
Which vessels enter and which leave the liver through Porta Hepatis.
The Portal Vein and Hepatic Artery enter the liver. the Common Bile Duct leaves the liver carrying blood to the digestive tract.
Describe the Left Branch of Portal Vein
It courses horizontally, branches into the lateral and medial divisions, and feeds the left and caudate lobe of liver.
What is different about the sizes of the Left and Right Portal Vein?
The Left PV is Longer and Narrower
Describe the Right Branch of the Portal Vein
It courses to the right and feeds the right lobe of the liver. It branches into the anterior and posterior sections.
The normal diameter of the portal vein should not exceed…?
1.3 cm or 13 mm
What is the function of the hepatic veins? Do they connect to the Portal System
They drain blood from the liver to the IVC. They do NOT connect to the Portal System
In embryology, the portal vein is fully developed by which week of pregnancy?
The 8th week
Coursing superiorly, how long is the main portal vein?
5-6 cm
What vessels create the “Mickey Mouse” Sign on a transverse image?
Portal Vein, Hepatic Artery, CBD
Do any of the vessels the portal triad split off at any point? Why?
No, they’re encased in a fiberous sheath that holds the vessels together
What do the hepatic veins do?
Drain blood from the liver and empty into the IVC
What does the Hepatic Artery do
brings oxygenated blood into the liver
What does the portal vein do?
Supplies nutrient-rich blood to the liver for metabolism and detoxification
What does the bile duct do?
Carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from being stored in the gallbladder to the digestive tract.
Which vein (portal or hepatic) appears with hyperechoic walls because of their high collagen content and sheath covering?
Portal Veins
Describe Hepatopetal blood flow
blood that flows toward the liver
Describe Hepatofugal blood flow
blood that flows away from the liver
The bifurcation of the Right Portal Vein is best seen in which scan plane?
Sagittal
What does the SMV empty into?
The PSC
