Through which vein does blood go to the liver?

• A. Inferior mesenteric vein
• B. Hepatic veins
• C. Hepatic portal vein
• D. Splenic vein

Answer: (C)

The hepatic portal vein is the primary vessel responsible for carrying blood to the liver. This vein plays a crucial role in the hepatic portal system, which is designed to transport nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver for processing.

After nutrients from digested food are absorbed in the intestines, they enter the bloodstream and travel to the liver via the hepatic portal vein. This allows the liver to metabolize the nutrients, detoxify harmful substances, and regulate various biochemical processes, such as glycogen storage and bile production.

In contrast, the other veins mentioned do not serve this purpose directly. The inferior mesenteric vein, for example, primarily drains blood from the distal colon and rectum into the splenic vein, which may then drain into the hepatic portal vein, but it does not carry blood directly to the liver. Similarly, the hepatic veins are responsible for draining deoxygenated blood from the liver back into the inferior vena cava, and the splenic vein drains blood from the spleen, which eventually contributes to the hepatic portal vein but is not a direct route to the liver.

Thus, the hepatic portal vein is integral to the blood flow to the liver, making it the correct answer.