Question

1. What are the problems of the portal blood returning to the caval/systemic circulation in liver cirrhosis? (Answer: 2 sentences)

2. What are the 2 vessels on the esophagus that are communicating in the portocaval anastomosis? What is Caput Medusae? (Answer: 1 sentence)

3. Why esophageal varices develop? What is their danger? (Answer: 2 sentences)

Answer 1

1. In liver cirrhosis, there is liver failure and fibrosis leading to increase resistance to the blood received by the portal vein.

Thus causing portal hypertension. And reduced blood flow in systemic caval vein and low venous return. Thus low systemic bp.

2.oesophageal branch of left gastric vein

And azygous vein.

Caput medusae: Due to portal hypertension all the superficial veins get swollen and engorged which are inspectory features and present around the umbilicus.

3. Due to porta hypertension, the portocaval anastomosis gets swollen and engorged and are susceptible to rupture.

Likewise, these oesophageal branches sell up and form varices and rupture leading to blood in the oesophagus and causing hematemesis.