Question

Copy and complete the following sentence by filling in the blank with the appropriate word/term/phrase.

The blood vessel that begins and ends in capillaries is the __________

Answer 1

Portal vein:

1. The vein that performs the function of collecting blood from one organ and distributing it to another organ by branching into several capillaries is called the portal vein.
2. It is the part of the portal system which is made up of a portal vein and a complex comprising of capillaries that originates in one organ and distributes in another.
3. The portal vein does not empty directly into the posterior vena cava.

Example of a portal vein:

1. The hepatic portal vein comprises branches that emerge from the stomach, spleen, pancreas, etc., and breaks into several capillaries that enter the liver.
2. The capillaries join to form a new vein called the hepatic vein which drains into the posterior vena cava.

Hence, the blood vessel that begins and ends in capillaries is the portal vein.