Portocaval anastomoses as a solution and diagnosis of body problems

Our body has a very well-designed circulatory system. In the case of problems in any of the departments, collateral circulation is activated, which is due to the presence of anastomoses. In addition, these collaterals sometimes determine the clinical symptoms of certain diseases.

Human venous vessels are divided into three large groups: the portal portal system, the lower and upper hollow veins. Each of these groups carries out the outflow of blood from certain areas of the body. Between them there are a number of compounds that have been called portocaval and kava caval anastomoses. Therefore, if in one of the systems there is, for example, a blockage of the vein, then due to the presence of detours, the venous outflow will be preserved.

Now let's take a closer look at portocaval anastomoses. They are the connections of the portal vein( v. Porta) and the lower or upper vena cava( v. Cava inferior et superior) and have the following localization:

- lower esophagus. Blood from the portal vein enters the veins of the stomach, which are widely anastomosed with the esophagus. Esophageal veins, in turn, flow into the unpaired and semi-unpaired veins that flow into v.cava superior;

- rectum. The outflow of blood is carried out in three sources from the upper, middle and lower parts of it. Blood from the upper part flows into the inferior mesenteric vein, from the middle - into the internal iliac and, finally, from the lower - into the inner sexual( further into the internal iliac).Naturally, in the thickness of the rectum they all connect and form portocaval anastomoses;

- the anterior wall of the abdomen( around the umbilical ring).A complex anastomosis, the sources of which are the veins of all three systems. The vena cava is represented by the umbilical veins, which are located in the circular ligament of the liver. From the upper vena cava to the anastomosis the upper epigastrium joins, and from the lower hollow, the lower epigastrium;

is a capsule of the kidney. In this area, the connection of the inferior mesenteric vein( from the portal vein) and renal veins( from the inferior vena cava) occurs.

I must say that there are not only portocaval anastomoses. In certain places, connect the upper and lower hollow veins. Such compounds are called cava caval anastomoses. There are three of them:

- anterior abdominal wall. In addition to anastomoses with a portal vein, the lower and upper hollows are widely connected to each other;

- vertebral plexus. In the upper spine, the veins of this region are anastomosed with the veins of the head and neck from the upper canal system, and in the lower section with the lumbar veins from the lower hollow. Thus, anastomosis is formed through the vertebral plexus;

- the lower back. Lumbar veins( lower hollow) and unpaired and semi-unpaired veins( upper hollow).

The value of the outflow pathways is irrefutable. For example, in the syndrome of portal hypertension, portocaval anastomoses play an important diagnostic role. The fact is that in the presence of this pathology, many of the clinical manifestations are associated with them. There is bleeding from the enlarged veins of the esophagus, as well as from the rectum. The classic symptom is the "jellyfish head".It manifests itself on the anterior abdominal wall and is an enlarged anastomosing vein. All this is due to the fact that due to the increased pressure in the portal vein, blood flows off in all available ways. The causes of the syndrome of portal hypertension are liver diseases, for example, cirrhosis, hepatitis, tumor lesions, etc.

Thus, the presence of anastomoses is a very important moment in the functioning of the body. They play an exceptional role in many pathological processes and are extremely important both for the independent decision of the body of various problems, and for the diagnosis of certain pathologies.