Final answer:
The statement is true. The hepatic portal system carries blood from the digestive organs and the spleen to the liver for processing before it returns to the heart, which is crucial for metabolizing nutrients and detoxifying wastes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the hepatic portal system allows blood to flow from the gastrointestinal organs to the liver before returning to the heart is true.The hepatic portal system is a critical component of the circulatory system that specifically directs blood from parts of the digestive system to the liver. Nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, as well as from the spleen, enters the hepatic portal vein.
This blood contains not only nutrients but also waste products that need to be metabolized and detoxified. The hepatic portal vein carries this blood to the liver, where it is processed; excess nutrients are stored or metabolized, and wastes are detoxified and prepared for excretion. After being processed in the liver, the blood is returned to the systemic circulation through the hepatic veins, which empty into the inferior vena cava, bringing the blood back to the heart. Therefore, the hepatic portal system plays a vital role in maintaining normal systemic blood composition by allowing the liver to metabolize absorbed digestive components before they enter the general circulation.