Blood Supply

The liver receives a blood supply from two sources. The first is the hepatic artery which delivers oxygenated blood from the general circulation. The second is the hepatic portal vein delivering deoxygenated blood from the small intestine containing nutrients.

The blood flows through the liver tissue to the hepatic cells where many metabolic functions take place. The blood drains out of the liver via the hepatic vein.

The liver tissue is not vascularised with a capillary network as with most other organs, but consists of blood filled sinusoids surrounding the hepatic cells.