Abstract
THE occurrence of laminar flow in the hepatic portal vein is acceptable on hydrodynamic grounds1. In any consideration of the probable distribution within the liver of blood from a particular tributary of the portal vein the anatomy of the vein is important. Drs. C. H. Barnett and W. Cochrane2 suggest that the relative diameters of tributary and main vein and the angle of union are the important factors in determining the path of the streams. I have recently observed an anatomical structure in the portal vein which on theoretical grounds would appear to be more important than either of these factors.
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References
Bayliss, L. E. In Frey-Wyssling, A. (Editor), “Deformation and Flow in Biological Systems” (North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, 1952).
Barnett, C. H., and Cochrane, W., Nature, 177, 740 (1956).
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BAKER, H. A Spiral ‘Valve’ in the Hepatic Portal Vein. Nature 178, 1003–1004 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/1781003b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1781003b0
