Question

What structures are part of a portal triad?

a) Hepatic artery, bile duct, hepatic vein
b) Portal vein, lymphatic vessel, hepatic duct
c) Central vein, Kupffer cells, sinusoids
d) Hepatic vein, bile canaliculus, stellate cells

Answer 1

A portal triad is made up of a bile duct, a branch of the hepatic artery, and a branch of the hepatic portal vein, playing vital roles in liver function including blood detoxification, nutrient metabolism, and bile excretion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The structures that are part of the portal triad include the bile duct, a branch of the hepatic artery, and a branch of the hepatic portal vein branch. These structures form a distinctive arrangement around the perimeter of hepatic lobules and are key components in the vascular and biliary architecture of the liver. The hepatic portal vein carries blood that is rich in digested nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract, while the hepatic artery supplies oxygenated blood to the liver. The bile duct collects bile produced by hepatocytes that is essential for digestion. This triad is crucial for proper liver function, as it facilitates the processing and detoxification of blood, the metabolism of nutrients, and excretion of bile.