Quick Facts
Sublobular veins are tributaries of the hepatic veins that receive the central veins of hepatic lobules (Dorland, 2011).
Structure/Morphology
The central vein receives blood from the sinusoids. It is the terminal venule of the system of hepatic veins so is more appropriately named the terminal hepatic venule.
The sublobular vein receives blood from these terminal hepatic venules which in turn drain into hepatic veins. Hepatic veins do not have valves and blood eventually drains into the inferior vena cava.
The sublobular vein is composed of an endothelium enclosed in a collagenous and elastic coat.
Anatomical Relations
The sublobular veins are solitary and can easily be distinguished from the interlobular veins, which travel with an artery and bile duct in the portal triad.
Function
The sublobular veins ultimately carry deoxygenated blood from the liver back to the heart.
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
