Hepatic veins

The blood vessels responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the liver and returning it to the heart.

Hepatic veins are a set of three large blood vessels, namely the right, middle, and left hepatic veins, which carry deoxygenated blood away from the liver. They play a crucial role in the circulatory system by transporting blood that has already been processed by the liver back into the systemic circulation.

Terminologia Anatomica

vena-hepatica

System

Circulatory system

Function

The primary function of the hepatic veins is to drain deoxygenated blood from the liver, which has fulfilled its vital role in metabolism, detoxification, and synthesis of various proteins. After blood is filtered through the liver, it collects in the central veins of the liver lobules, which converge into the hepatic veins. The hepatic veins facilitate the return of this processed blood to the heart through the inferior vena cava. In addition, they help regulate blood flow and maintain hemodynamic stability, particularly in the context of hepatic function, influencing overall circulatory dynamics in the body. Their significance extends beyond mere drainage, as they are involved in the balance of nutrients and waste products, thus playing an integral role in metabolic homeostasis.

Location

Hepatic veins are located at the superior aspect of the liver, emerging from the liver itself and draining into the inferior vena cava. The right hepatic vein originates from the right lobe of the liver, the middle hepatic vein arises from the central areas of the liver, especially between the right and left lobes, while the left hepatic vein drains the left lobe. This anatomical positioning ensures that blood extracted from the liver travels directly toward the heart, illustrating the liver's central role in metabolic processes before re-entering systemic circulation.

Did You Know?

Hepatic veins account for about 25% of the blood flow to the inferior vena cava.
Unlike many other veins in the body, hepatic veins do not have valves.
The liver receives blood from two sources: the hepatic artery and the portal vein, but drains only through the hepatic veins.