DISTRIBUTION OF THE HEPATIC BLOOD VESSELS OF THE GROUND SQUIRREL (SPERMOPHILUS CITELLUS)

The aim of this paper was to study distribution of the hepatic artery and portal vein of theportal system of the liver in ground squirrels (Spermophilus citellus) and compare these data withthose concerning the rats, rabbits, guinea pigs and nutrias. The liver of the ground squirrel receivesthe oxygen and nutrients through blood from two large blood vessels: portal vein and hepatic artery(a. hepatica propria). The portal vein is formed by the confluence of three main venous bloodvessels: v. gastropancreaticoduodenalis, v. gastrolienalis and v. mesenterica cranialis. It collectsvenous blood from the stomach, pancreas, spleen and all of intestines except the rectum. The portalvein enters the porta hepatis on the liver together with the hepatic artery. Five venous branches ofdifferent size separate from the portal vein and ramify into the respective liver lobes.Blood leaves the liver through the hepatic veins that start with the central veins. Three large hepaticveins and two venous trunks drain lobes of the liver and enter the caudal vena cava as it passesthrough the liver.A. hepatica propria supplies the liver and gallbladder with oxygenated blood. It raises from thehepatic artery (a. hepatica) wich is the third branch of the celiac artery. A. hepatica propria in theportal fissure is divided into two branches, of which the left branch brings arterial blood to the lefthepatic lobe, and the right branch brings it into other liver lobes.