CT ABDOMEN

Liver Circulatory System

The liver receives blood from two main sources: (1) 20% from the Hepatic Artery which is a branch of the abdominal aorta supplying oxygenated blood, and (2) 80% from the Hepatic Portal Vein which receives blood from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, duodenum, and colon. The Hepatic Portal Vein transports:

• absorbed nutrients from the duodenum



• white blood cells from the spleen



• toxins, such as alcohol, which are absorbed in the intestines



• waste products, such as CO2 from the spleen, pancreas, stomach, and duodenum
  

Tributaries from the Hepatic Artery and Hepatic Portal Vein channel into liver sinusoids, spaces between liver cells. After exchanging their content, the deoxygenated blood then passes into the Hepatic Veins and then into the Inferior Vena Cava to the right atrium of the heart.

Abdominal Aorta Branches

The abdominal aorta originates as an extension of the thoracic aorta as it passes through the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm. It terminates as it bifurcates into the left and right common iliac arteries which supply the legs with oxygenated blood. Between these two points are several arterial branches that supply the abdominal and pelvic organs and related structures. These branches and the regions they serve are as follows:

ARTERIES............................REGION OF BODY SERVED

Inferior phrenic.............................Diaphragm

Celiac...............................................Liver, stomach, spleen, & pancreas

Superior mesenteric.....................Small intestine,ascending, & transverse

.........................................................colon

Suprarenals....................................Adrenal (suprarenal) glands

Renals..............................................Kidneys

Gonadals..........................................Ovaries or testes

Lumbars..........................................Posterior abdominal wall, lumbar

..........................................................vertebrae, & inferior end of

..........................................................spinal cord

Inferior mesenteric........................Transverse, descending, & sigmoid

...........................................................colon; rectum

Median sacral..................................Sacrum, coccyx, & rectum

Common iliacs.................................Hips, legs, urinary bladder, muscles

..........................................................of buttocks, uterus or prostate

..........................................................gland