Simone Lawson
The porta hepatis, or the door to the liver, is a region in the liver where major vessels and ducts enter and exit. A bile duct, along with a portal venule and arteriole, constitute a portal triad. The blood vessels provide blood flow to the lobule, and the bile duct drains bile. The portal triad is also known as the hepatic portal, which drains all the blood from the digestive organs and routes it through the liver for processing.
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What You'll Learn
The portal triad is made up of a bile duct, a portal venule, and an arteriole
The portal triad is a term used to describe the region of the liver where major vessels and ducts enter and exit. It is specifically made up of a bile duct, a portal venule, and an arteriole.
The bile duct plays a crucial role in draining bile, while the blood vessels, including the portal venule and arteriole, are responsible for providing blood flow to the lobule. This intricate system ensures the proper drainage and blood supply necessary for the liver's optimal functioning.
The liver is divided into segments, each with its own dual vascular inflow, biliary drainage, and lymphatic drainage. These segments are conceptualized as wedge-shaped, with the apex pointing toward the hepatic hilum, also known as the porta hepatis. At this point, the portal triad comes into play, with the convergence of a single segmental branch of the portal vein, hepatic artery, and bile duct.
The portal vein is a crucial component of the triad, and it bifurcates at the portal plane, dividing the liver into superior and inferior segments. This division allows for precise surgical resection of individual segments without damaging the remaining parts of the liver. The resection occurs along the hepatic veins and portal veins, ensuring the liver's viability.
Understanding the anatomy of the portal triad is essential for surgical procedures and the overall understanding of liver function. The interplay between the bile duct, portal venule, and arteriole facilitates the liver's ability to process blood from the digestive organs and perform its various physiological roles.
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The blood vessels provide blood flow to the lobule
Blood vessels are essential for maintaining blood flow to the organs and tissues in the body. They deliver oxygen and nutrients to the organs and tissues and remove waste and carbon dioxide. Blood vessels include arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins carry blood back to the heart.
The blood vessels that supply blood to the lobule are part of the portal triad. The portal triad is made up of a bile duct, a portal venule, and an arteriole. The bile duct drains bile, while the blood vessels provide blood flow to the lobule.
The lobule, in this case, refers to the liver lobule. The liver has a dual blood supply, receiving blood from the hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery. The hepatic portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver for processing. The blood then flows through the liver sinusoids, which are small, thin-walled capillaries. These capillaries have openings that allow large proteins and even blood cells to pass through, which is necessary for the liver to perform its functions.
The blood vessels that supply the liver lobule are part of the hepatic portal circulation, which includes the hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery. The hepatic portal vein receives blood from the digestive organs, while the hepatic artery delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart. These blood vessels come together to form the portal triad, which supplies blood to the liver lobule.
The liver lobule is an important structure within the liver, and its blood supply is crucial for the liver's function. The blood vessels that supply the lobule are part of the portal triad, which includes the bile duct, portal venule, and arteriole. These structures work together to provide blood flow and drainage to the liver lobule, ensuring the proper functioning of the liver.
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The bile duct drains bile
Bile is a fluid produced by the liver that helps break down fats and proteins during digestion. The bile duct is a long tube-like structure that carries bile and is present in most vertebrates. The bile duct is an essential component of the biliary system, which includes the liver, gallbladder, and small intestine.
The bile duct can be divided into three main parts: the fundus (superior), the body (middle), and the neck (inferior). Bile is secreted by the liver into passages that carry bile toward the hepatic duct. The hepatic duct joins with the cystic duct (carrying bile to and from the gallbladder) to form the common bile duct. The common bile duct then opens into the intestine, specifically the duodenum, via the ampulla of Vater.
The common bile duct is the largest bile duct, about 10 centimeters long. It carries bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine, where it aids in the digestion of fats and proteins. The gallbladder acts as a storage compartment for bile, releasing it into the cystic duct when the small intestine signals that it needs it for digestion.
Blockages in the bile duct can lead to serious health issues. Conditions such as gallstones, pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), or scarring from injury can obstruct the bile duct. This obstruction prevents bile from reaching the intestine, causing a buildup of bilirubin in the blood, resulting in jaundice, characterised by yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Percutaneous biliary drainage is a specialised and minimally invasive procedure used to treat blocked bile ducts. It involves draining bile directly through the skin over the liver and out of the body. Endoscopic drainage, using a special telescope through the mouth, is another method of bile duct drainage, although it may not be suitable for all types of blockages.
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The liver secretes bile
The liver is responsible for secreting bile, a yellowish-green digestive fluid. Bile is produced by the liver and flows through a series of ducts, eventually exiting through the common hepatic duct. It then enters the gallbladder, where it is stored and concentrated. When stimulated by the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), the gallbladder contracts, pushing bile through the cystic duct and into the common bile duct. The bile then enters the duodenal lumen as the sphincter of Oddi relaxes. The hormone secretin plays a crucial role in this process by stimulating the secretion of bicarbonate and water in response to the presence of acid in the duodenum, thereby increasing the volume of bile entering the duodenum.
Bile is composed mainly of bile salts, phospholipids, cholesterol, conjugated bilirubin, electrolytes, and water. It serves two primary functions: aiding in digestion by breaking down and absorbing fats, and eliminating waste products like bilirubin from the body. Bilirubin is a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells, and bile acts as a carrier to transport it from the liver to the intestines for elimination.
The production and secretion of bile involve the liver's hepatocytes and the cholangiocytes lining the bile ducts. While hepatocytes produce bile, cholangiocytes modify it. Additionally, the cholangiocytes play a role in regulating bile flow. For instance, secretin stimulates receptors in the cholangiocytes, activating the CFTR chloride channel and allowing the exchange of bicarbonate for chloride. Conversely, somatostatin inhibits cAMP synthesis in cholangiocytes, reducing bile flow.
Bile is essential for fat digestion and nutrient absorption in the small intestine. It facilitates the breakdown and absorption of lipids. After aiding in digestion, most bile acids are reabsorbed from the ileum, secreted into the portal venous system, and returned to the liver through enterohepatic recirculation. This process ensures the efficient utilization and conservation of bile.
Any obstruction in the bile ducts, such as gallstones, scar tissue, or tumors, can lead to bile duct blockages. This disruption in bile flow can result in digestive issues and problems with nutrient absorption. Therefore, the proper secretion and flow of bile are crucial for maintaining optimal digestive health.
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The hepatic portal drains blood from the digestive organs
The hepatic portal vein, also known as the portal vein, is a vital component of the hepatic portal system, which is responsible for draining blood from the digestive organs. This vein plays a crucial role in transporting blood from various organs in the abdomen, including the digestive organs, to the liver for processing and filtration.
The portal vein is approximately 8 centimetres (3 inches) long in adults and is located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen. It forms at the junction of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein, with additional tributaries such as the inferior mesenteric vein, gastric veins, and cystic veins draining different parts of the digestive system. These veins comprehensively drain nutrients and toxins from the digestive tract, ensuring that the liver receives nutrient-rich blood.
The hepatic portal vein is unique in that it carries blood to the liver, while the hepatic veins carry blood away from the liver. The liver receives approximately 70% of its blood supply from the hepatic portal vein, with the remaining 30% coming from the hepatic arteries. This well-oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood is essential for the liver's functions, including protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, and detoxification.
The blood entering the liver through the hepatic portal vein collects in the central vein at the core of the lobule. From there, it converges into the right and left hepatic veins, which exit the liver and empty into the inferior vena cava, allowing the blood to return to the heart and systemic circulation. This process ensures that the nutrients and toxins collected from the digestive organs are processed and distributed throughout the body.
In summary, the hepatic portal vein is an essential component of the hepatic portal system, facilitating the drainage of blood from the digestive organs and delivering it to the liver for processing. This system plays a vital role in nutrient absorption, toxin removal, and ensuring the proper functioning of the digestive system and the body as a whole.
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Frequently asked questions
A portal triad is made up of a bile duct, a portal venule, and an arteriole.
The blood vessels in a portal triad provide blood flow to the lobule, while the bile duct drains bile.
The porta hepatis is the region of the liver where major vessels and ducts enter and exit.
The Couinaud classification of hepatic segments is a way of dividing the liver into self-contained units or segments, each with its own dual vascular inflow, biliary drainage, and lymphatic drainage.
The portal plane is a horizontal plane in the liver where the portal vein bifurcates and becomes horizontal, dividing each section of the liver into superior and inferior segments.
