Porta hepatis

Porta Hepatis

Porta Hepatis (pronunciation: /ˈpɔːrtə hɪˈpeɪtɪs/), also known as the Hilum of the Liver, is a deep fissure in the inferior surface of the liver through which all the neurovascular structures and hepatic ducts enter or leave, except for hepatic veins. The term "Porta Hepatis" is derived from the Latin words "porta" meaning gate and "hepatis" meaning of the liver.

Anatomy

The Porta Hepatis is a transverse fissure about 5 cm long, situated at the inferior surface of the liver. It serves as the point of entry for the hepatic artery and portal vein, and the exit point for the bile ducts.

Components

The Porta Hepatis contains three important structures: the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and the bile ducts.

• Hepatic Artery: This is a short blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, pylorus of the stomach, duodenum, pancreas, and gallbladder.

• Portal Vein: This is a major vein that carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver.

• Bile Ducts: These are a series of thin tubes that go from the liver to the small intestine. The main function of the bile ducts is to move bile from the liver to the small intestine, where it helps in the digestion of fats.

Clinical Significance

The Porta Hepatis is a critical area in liver surgery and liver transplantation. It is also the site where primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and other liver diseases may first appear.

Related Terms

• Hepatic Artery
• Portal Vein
• Bile Ducts
• Liver
• Hepatocellular Carcinoma

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Porta hepatis
• Wikipedia's article - Porta hepatis

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