Hepatic Veins
Veins that drain the liver
The hepatic veins are a group of three large veins that drain deoxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava, which delivers the blood to the right atrium of the heart. The hepatic veins originate in the liver as small venules that carry blood from the hepatic sinusoids. As they leave the liver, the venules merge together to form the right, left, and middle hepatic veins. These veins then converge and finally drain into the inferior vena cava at the level of the diaphragm.
The hepatic veins play a critical role in the circulation of blood in the liver and the regulation of its functions. They remove waste products from the liver and carry them to the kidneys for excretion. They also transport nutrients, hormones, and drugs to the liver for processing. Because many diseases can affect the hepatic veins, such as liver cancer and cirrhosis, it is important to monitor their function through blood tests, imaging studies, and liver biopsies.
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