Hepatic portal vein (English)

An overview of the upper portion of the abdomen with the liver reflected and parts of the stomach, pancreas and small intestine removed. The hepatic portal vein is formed by the union of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins just posterior to the neck of the pancreas. The superior mesenteric vein receives venous blood from the small intestine, cecum, ascending colon and transverse colon through its tributaries. The splenic vein can be found along the posterior length of the pancreas and receives several tributaries which drain the spleen, parts of the stomach and pancreas. The hepatic portal vein ascends obliquely alongside the proper hepatic artery within the hepatoduodenal ligament to reach the liver before bifurcating into left and right branches.