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What Is a Portal Triad?

Andy Josiah
Andy Josiah

The portal triad is an area at the liver named after its triangular shape and its three major components: the hepatic artery, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic ducts, or bile ducts. The term, however, can be considered a misnomer, since it contains other structures as well. This section of the liver is actually better known by its clinical term, portal hepatis. Other terms include transverse fissure and portal fissure. The portal triad serves as a blood-vessel gateway or entrance of the liver’s hepatic lobule.

The blood vessels that enter the triad are the hepatic artery and hepatic portal vein. The former is sometimes called the hepatic artery proper, or proper hepatic artery, to differentiate it from the common hepatic artery, which is its site of origin. The hepatic artery that forms the triad is responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the liver via its left and right channels. It is also set apart from the gastroduodenal artery, which is the other branch arising from the common hepatic artery, and supplies oxygenated blood to the stomach as well as the beginning section of the small intestine, called the duodenum.

A malfunction of the portal triad may cause high blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein.
A malfunction of the portal triad may cause high blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein.

The portal vein is the other blood vessel that forms the portal triad. Like the hepatic artery, it splits into left and right channels upon reaching the liver, and it supplies nutrient-rich blood to the organ. The portal vein, however, is responsible for most of the blood supply; medical researchers estimate it at 75 percent. Also, it gets the blood from the stomach and small intestine, rather than the heart. The portal vein originates from the union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein at the neck of the pancreas and has an overall length of about 3 inches (8 centimeters) in adults.

The hepatic artery, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic ducts form the portal triad.
The hepatic artery, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic ducts form the portal triad.

The hepatic ducts go out of the liver to connect with the intestines for the transportation of bile, which is used for digestion. It is divided into the left and right ducts, each of which correspond with the section of the liver they are responsible for draining. The other structures of the portal triad are the lymphatic vessels, which are components of the body’s immune system, and a branch of the vagus nerve, which is one of the nerves that originate from the brain.

The portal vein originates from the union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein at the neck of the pancreas.
The portal vein originates from the union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein at the neck of the pancreas.

A malfunction of the portal triad can cause liver problems such as cirrhosis, and in the most extreme cases, death. A common condition is portal hypertension, which denotes high blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein. This condition can be treated using beta-blockers to reduce the pressure in the vein’s blood flow.

Discussion Comments

anon965787

You are mixing two distinct areas: the porta hepatis (hepatic triad) and the portal triad. The porta hepatis is composed of the proper hepatic artery, common hepatic duct, and portal vein whereas the portal triad is composed of the common bile duct proper hepatic artery and portal vein.

Realited
What's also interesting is that they speak of the bile used for digestion. I am not sure as to where the bile originates whether it's the gall bladder, or the pancreas. I do know that when my younger brother had a problem, he was told he had bile in his stomach. I'm not too sure how or what the diagnosis was, it happened a very long time ago.
Contentum

Not many people know just how important the liver is to not only digestion but to the continuation of clean blood and proper circulation.

Grinderry
Interesting to see that the portal vein is where most of the blood for the liver comes from, as opposed to the heart being the major blood supplier.
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    • A malfunction of the portal triad may cause high blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein.
      By: sauletas
      A malfunction of the portal triad may cause high blood pressure in the hepatic portal vein.
    • The hepatic artery, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic ducts form the portal triad.
      By: Zorn, A.M.,
      The hepatic artery, the hepatic portal vein, and the hepatic ducts form the portal triad.
    • The portal vein originates from the union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein at the neck of the pancreas.
      By: kaianni
      The portal vein originates from the union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein at the neck of the pancreas.