Final answer:
The short gastric veins drain blood from the stomach into the hepatic portal vein, which then transports the blood directly to the liver.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short gastric veins drain blood from the stomach into the hepatic portal vein. This vein is a key component of the hepatic portal system, which also includes veins like the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein. The hepatic portal vein starts at the level of the second lumbar vertebra with the convergence of the superior mesenteric and splenic veins and receives additional input from the gastric veins, including the short gastric veins, before delivering blood directly to the liver for processing.