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Blood Supply to the Liver and Gallbladder

The liver has two blood supply sources: the hepatic artery (a branch of the celiac artery) delivers oxygenated blood along with cholesterol and other substances (such as hormones) necessary for processing food, while the portal vein collects venous blood from the entire intestinal region and supplies this nutrient-rich blood to the liver for processing and metabolizing. This blood then flows through a network of tiny channels in the liver; nutrients are metabolized, while toxins are processed for expulsion....

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    Full Blood Supply to the Liver and Gallbladder Description

    [Continued from above] . . .

    The gallbladder's blood is supplied by the cystic artery. The cystic artery originates in the right hepatic artery. The cystic artery also supplies the cystic duct; at this point it breaks up into two or four minor branches (these are called Calot's arteries), which supply blood to the gallbladder's cervix and to part of the cystic duct. Then these arteries divide into the superficial branch, which crosses over the left face of the gallbladder and the deep branch, which goes in between the gallbladder and the gallbladder fossa.