﻿ Portal Hypertension Symptoms, Complications - MedicineNet
Portal Hypertension  Medical Author: Medical Editor:  What is
portal hypertension?  The liver serves many purposes within the
body from making carbohydrates, proteins and fats to
synthesizing bile to help digest found. Because of this, the
liver requires a significant blood supply. As opposed to other
organs in the body, the majority of this blood supply (75%)
comes from the venous system through the portal system. Blood
vessels from the stomach, small intestine, pancreas, and spleen
converge and form the portal vein delivering nutrients and
chemical building blocks to the liver. Once in the liver, the
portal vein and hepatic artery (which accounts for 25% of the
liver's blood supply) come together to form sinusoids, spaces
where the blood is filtered. From there, blood makes its way to
the Vena cava, the largest vein in the body to return to the
heart.  Portal hypertension describes elevated pressure within
the portal system, including the portal v