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Anatomy of Portal Vein System

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Portal Vein Thrombosis

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Abstract

The abdomen is unique to have two venous systems—the systemic and portal system. The systemic venous network drains directly into the inferior vena cava, whereas the portal system delivers the blood to the liver via the hepatic portal vein. The portal venous blood gets filtered through the hepatic sinusoids to enter the hepatic veins and finally the inferior vena cava. The mesenteric and splenic veins are its main tributaries but smaller veins from the stomach, pancreas, and gallbladder also contribute to this system. The portal venous system is subject to various congenital and acquired disorders, most importantly portal venous obstruction/thrombosis and portal hypertension. Proper understanding of the anatomy of the portal venous system is imperative for the diagnosis, management, and effective treatment planning of these disorders. Variant anatomy and congenital anomalies of the portal venous system are particularly important to identify in the context of consideration of liver transplantation or hepatic resections and interventional procedures like transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, portal vein embolization, etc. In this chapter, we will review the embryology and anatomy of the portal venous system, discuss its complex tributaries, and also succinctly learn about relevant anatomical and topographical variants in light of their significance prior to surgical or interventional treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK

    Ruchira Das, James Chambers & Ankur Arora

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  1. Ruchira Das
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  3. Ankur Arora
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Correspondence to Ankur Arora .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China

    **ngshun Qi

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China

    Weifen **e

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Das, R., Chambers, J., Arora, A. (2021). Anatomy of Portal Vein System. In: Qi, X., **e, W. (eds) Portal Vein Thrombosis. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6538-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6538-4_1

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