Maksaverkosto

Maksaverkosto refers to the liver's vascular network, a complex system of blood vessels responsible for supplying the liver with oxygenated blood and nutrients, and for draining deoxygenated blood and waste products. This network is crucial for the liver's numerous metabolic functions.

The primary blood supply to the liver comes from two sources: the hepatic artery, which carries oxygenated blood from the aorta, and the portal vein, which transports nutrient-rich blood from the digestive organs (stomach, intestines, spleen, and pancreas). These vessels branch into smaller and smaller vessels within the liver, eventually reaching the sinusoids.

Sinusoids are specialized capillaries that form the main site of blood flow within the liver lobules. Here, blood from both the hepatic artery and portal vein mixes. Hepatocytes, the main cells of the liver, are arranged around these sinusoids and are in close contact with the blood, allowing for efficient exchange of substances.

The blood then collects into hepatic venules, which merge to form larger hepatic veins. Finally, the hepatic veins drain into the inferior vena cava, returning the deoxygenated blood to the general circulation. This intricate maksaverkosto ensures that the liver receives the continuous blood flow necessary to perform its vital functions, including detoxification, synthesis of proteins, and production of bile.