The Hepatic Portal System Brings nutrient rich blood from the small intestine to the liver for processing

Arterial system to all of body Heart Liver Arterial system to all of body Gastric Glands Water Digested Food Hepatic Portal Vein Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine Rectum Anus Mouth Esophagus Secretions of pancreas and liver

Capillary beds of most tissues drain into veins that lead directly back to the heart. Blood draining the intestines is an exception. The veins draining the intestines lead to a second set of capillaries in the liver (via the hepatic portal vein). The liver removes many of the materials that were absorbed by the intestine.

What does the liver do to the absorbed materials? Glucose removed and converted into glycogen (with help from pancreas) Other monosaccharides are removed and converted into glucose Excess amino acids are removed and deaminated The amino group is converted into urea

Liver’s Job Liver serves as a gatekeeper between the small intestine and general circulation It screens the blood the reaches it in the hepatic portal system so that the composition of the blood when it leaves the liver will be close to normal for the body