TRIBUTARIES OF THE PORTAL VEIN 



677 



little higher than the pyloric vein. At the cardiac end of the stomach it receives small branches 

 from the oesophagus. 



The cystic vein [v. cystica] (fig. 533) returns the blood from the gall-bladder. It usually 

 opens into the right branch of the portal vein. 



The superior mesenteric vein [v. mesenterica superior] (fig. 534) begins in 

 tributaries which correspond with the branches of the superior mesenteric artery. 

 It courses upward a httle in front and to the right of the artery, passing with that 

 vessel from between the layers of the mesentery. It passes in front of the 

 inferior portion of the duodenum, and behind the pancreas, where it joins the 

 splenic vein to form the portal trunk (fig. 531). 



Tributaries. — ^In addition to the tributaries corresponding to the branches of 

 the superior mesenteric artery — viz. the ileo-colica, colica dextra, colica media, and 

 vence intestinales (fig. 534) — it receives the right gastro -epiploic and the pan- 

 creatico-duodenal veins just before its termination in the portal vein. 



The right gastro-epiploic vein [v. gastroepiploica dextra] (fig. 533) accompanies the artery 

 of that name. It runs from left to right along the greater curvature of the stomach, receiving 

 branches from the anterior and posterior surfaces of that viscus, and from the great omentum, 

 and, passing behind the superior portion of the duodenum, ends in the superior mesenteric 

 vein just before that vessel joins the portal trunk. 



Fig. 532. — The Portal Veix withix the Liver. (After Rex.) 



Ascending branch 



Vena cava inferior 



Falci- 

 form 

 * liga- 

 ment 



Right main branch 



Left Round 

 ' branch lig. 

 Gall-bladder Trunk of por- Umbilical 

 tal vein recess 



I 



The pancreatic-duodenal veins [vv. pancreatico-duodenales] (fig. 531) run with the superior 

 and inferior pancreatico-duodenal arteries between the head of the pancreas and the second 

 portion of the duodenum. They receive pancreatic and duodenal veins [vv. pancreaticse et 

 duodenales] and are collected into a single stem which follows the inferior pancreatico-duodenal 

 artery and ends in the superior mesenteric vein a little below the right gastro-epiploic vein. 



The splenic vein [v. lienalis] (fig. 531) issues as several large branches from 

 the hilus of the spleen. These soon unite to form a large trunk, which passes 

 across the aorta and spine in company with the splenic artery, below which it lies, 

 to join at nearly a right angle the superior mesenteric vein. In this course it lies 

 behind the pancreas; and at its union with the superior mesenteric to form the 

 vena portse in front of the vena cava inferior. 



Tributaries. — It receives the short gastric veins [vv. gastricae breves], from the 

 fundus of the stomach, the left gastro-epiploic vein, and the inferior mesenteric 

 vein. As it lies in contact with the pancreas it receives some small pancreatic 

 veins [vv, pancreaticse]. 



The left gastro-epiploic vein [v. gastroepiploica sinistra] (fig. 533) accompanies the left 

 gastro-epiploic artery. It runs from right to left along the greater curvature of the stomach, 

 receives branches from the stomach and omentum, and opens into the commencement of the 

 splenic vein. 



