54 DISSECTION OF THE CAT 



8. The Caudal Vein is the direct continuation of 

 the post-cava. It returns blood from the tail. 



C. Portal System. 



The Portal Vein is formed by a number of 

 branches, which collect the blood from the in- 

 testines, spleen, pancreas, and stomach. These 

 branches unite within the mesentery. The portal 

 vein enters the under side of the liver, just above 

 the hepatic artery. In the liver it breaks up into 

 capillaries, which again unite, to form the hepatic 

 vein. This vein empties into the post-cava, near 

 the diaphragm, as already described. 



The portal system returns blood from the re- 

 gions supplied by the superior and inferior mesen- 

 teric arteries and the coeliac axis. 



