326 THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 
iliac veins (Fig. 126, w). It passes craniad near the dorsal 
median line, lying at first dorsad of the aorta (4), then to the 
right, then ventrad. It enters the substance of the liver in the 
dorsal part of the caudate lobe of the latter, passes through the 
liver, and then through the diaphragm near the ventrolateral 
edge of the central tendon. It passes then craniad in the 
thoracic cavity (Fig. 129, ¢) ventrad of the caudal lobe of the 
right lung, and enters the right auricle. , 
It receives the following branches (Fig. 126): lumbar, ilio- 
lumbalis (v), spermatica interna (~), renal (2), adrenolum- 
balis (s), phrenic, and hepatic veins. All but the last two 
named accompany the arteries of the same name. 
V. phrenica.—The phrenic veins gather the blood from 
the diaphragm and empty into the vena cava as it penetrates 
the diaphragm. 
V. hepatica.—The hepatic veins vary in number. They 
gather the blood from the liver (sent in by the portal vein and 
hepatic arteries) and enter the vena cava just caudad of the 
diaphragm. 
VENA PORT. THE PORTAL VEIN (Fig. 131).—The 
portal vein is the large vein carrying the blood from the 
abdominal viscera to the liver. Within the liver the portal 
vein breaks up into capillaries; these collect to form the 
hepatic veins, which enter the vena cava inferior. The portal: 
vein (a) is formed near the pyloric end of the stomach (1) by 
the union of the superior mesenteric (4) and gastrosplenic (c) 
veins and passes thence along the ventral border of the fora- 
men epiploicum (foramen of Winslow) to the liver (2), where it 
divides, going to the lobes of the liver. On its way to the 
liver it may receive the pancreaticoduodenalis (¢), gastroepi- 
ploica (¢), and coronaria ventriculi (7). These may unite with 
the portal’ separately, or any two or all three may unite to form 
a single trunk before entering the portal vein. 
1. V. coronaria ventriculi (7) gathers the blood from the 
lesser curvature of the stomach and anastomoses with the 
gastrosplenic veins. It usually empties into the portal vein 
near the pylorus. 
2. V. pancreaticoduodenalis (@) receives the blood from 
