Which statement regarding the hepatic portal system is FALSE?

• A. It branches off of the inferior vena cava.
• B. It transports nutrient-rich blood from the GI tract to the liver.
• C. It routes blood to the liver before systemic circulation.
• D. It collects blood from the stomach and intestines via portal vein

Answer: (A)

The hepatic portal system is a special venous circuit that collects blood from the capillaries of the GI tract and spleen and delivers it to the liver for processing before it returns to the heart through the systemic circulation. Blood from the stomach, intestines, and other abdominal organs travels via portal veins into the liver, where nutrients can be metabolized and toxins detoxified in the liver’s sinusoids. After passing through the liver, blood exits via hepatic veins and then joins the inferior vena cava, returning to the heart.

The statement that the hepatic portal system branches off the inferior vena cava is false. The portal system does not originate from the IVC; instead, it formed from vessels such as the splenic and superior mesenteric veins that combine to form the hepatic portal vein, which enters the liver. The other statements describe true features: it carries nutrient-rich blood from the GI tract to the liver, it routes blood to the liver before systemic circulation, and it collects blood from the stomach and intestines via the portal vein.