Veins of the small intestine (Latin)

Overview of the abdomen with the liver (hepar) reflected and parts of the stomach (gaster), pancreas and large intestine (intestinum crassum) removed. The venous drainage of the small intestine (intestinum tenue) is more variable and less well described than the arterial supply, but tends to generally follow the same pattern as the arteries. The vena mesenterica superior, however, drains into the vena portae hepatis rather than the inferior vena cava. The blood then goes through the portal venous system to the liver, where nutrients and toxins are removed, before being emptied into the vena cava inferior.