Hepatic veins

Hepatic veins are the blood vessels that drain deoxygenated blood from the liver and blood cleaned by the liver (from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen) into the inferior vena cava. They are part of the hepatic portal system.

Anatomy

The hepatic veins are typically divided into the right, middle, and left hepatic veins. The right hepatic vein drains the right lobe of the liver, the middle hepatic vein drains the middle lobe, and the left hepatic vein drains the left lobe. These veins then merge to form the hepatic vein, which drains into the inferior vena cava.

File:Hepatic veins.png

Diagram of the hepatic veins and their tributaries.

Function

The hepatic veins carry blood away from the liver, unlike the hepatic artery and portal vein which carry blood to the liver. The blood they carry is deoxygenated and has been cleaned by the liver, meaning it has been processed to remove toxins and waste products. This blood is then returned to the circulation via the inferior vena cava.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the hepatic veins can lead to significant illness. Budd-Chiari syndrome is a condition caused by occlusion of the hepatic veins, leading to liver damage and potentially liver failure. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including blood clots, cancer, and infection.

See also

• Liver
• Inferior vena cava
• Hepatic portal system
• Budd-Chiari syndrome

External links

• Hepatic veins at medicalook.com

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