Class 11 · Body Fluids and Circulation

Hepatic Portal System & Special Circulation

✅ Asked in NEET 2022
📖 NCERT Source

The hepatic portal vein carries blood from intestine to the liver before it is delivered to the systemic circulation. A special coronary system of blood vessels is present in our body exclusively for the circulation of blood to and from the cardiac musculature.

🖼️Related NCERT figure: Schematic diagram showing blood circulation in human body with heart at center containing chambers (RA, RV, LA, LV), showing pulmonary circulation to lungs via pulmonary artery and vein, systemic circulation through dorsal aorta to body parts, vena cava (great veins) returning blood to heart, and detailed views of artery and vein structure with smooth muscle and lumen. Also shows capillary structure at bottom. (Figure 15.4 Schematic plan of blood circulation in human)
NCERT Biology · Class 11 · Chapter 15 · Paragraph 35
How NTA Uses This Concept

The hepatic portal vein is unique because it carries nutrient-rich but oxygen-poor blood from the intestines directly to the liver BEFORE it enters systemic circulation—this allows the liver to process absorbed nutrients and filter toxins before distribution. Students often confuse this with regular veins carrying blood directly to the heart, or forget that portal circulation is a vein-to-organ-to-vein system, not vein-to-heart. NTA frequently tests whether you understand why this special routing is necessary: the liver must process intestinal contents first. Remember: hepatic portal = intestine→liver→heart, not intestine→heart directly. The coronary system similarly shows specialized circulation for specific organs.

Solve This NEET Question

This paragraph was tested 2 times in NEET.

Q1 of 2NEET 2022

A unique vascular connection between the digestive tract and liver is called _____. [NEET 2022 Phase 2]

Q2 of 2NEET 2017

The hepatic portal vein drains blood to liver from (NEET 2017)

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