After flowing through the liver’s microscopic sinusoids and central veins, blood enters the hepatic veins. The right, middle and left hepatic veins form the principal outflow routes, draining toward the inferior vena cava and back toward the heart.
Their arrangement is more interesting than it may appear: the middle and left hepatic veins can share a common trunk, while additional drainage variations are also possible.
Explore the liver’s venous outflow through premium 3D medical CGI from Body Spectra.
Educational content only. The animation illustrates a representative anatomical arrangement; actual hepatic venous anatomy varies between individuals.
