Portal Veins

Portal veins are blood vessels that are part of the circulatory system. They enable the movement of blood from visceral organs (which contain organs necessary for digestion, i.e. the liver, pancreas, gall bladder and small intestine) to the liver. They transport blood with nutrients absorbed in the intestine, thus playing a crucial role in digestion. The portal vein is also important for transferring hormones and metabolic products between the organs of the digestive system for processing and elimination. Portal veins are prone to disorders and diseases such as thrombosis, portal hypertension and Budd-Chiari syndrome, which can be fatal if left untreated. Treatment of portal vein ailments usually involve medications, lifestyle modifications and, in some cases, surgery.