Figure 1 .

Schematic diagram showing the upper abdominal organs from a ventral view with emphasis on the venous anatomy and the afferent and efferent veins of gastric fundal varices in portal-venous hypertension. The afferent veins of fundal varices include the left gastric vein (LGV) and the posterior/short gastric veins (PGV/SGV). The efferent veins drain through oesophageal veins (EV), the left inferior phrenic vein (LIPV), the left pericardiacophrenic vein (LPCPV), and the gastrorenal shunts (GRS). PV, portal vein; SV, splenic vein; LRV, left renal vein; SMV, superior mesenteric vein; IMV, inferior mesenteric vein; IVC, inferior vena cava. Schematic representation (box) of the wall structures of the gastric fundal wall demonstrates a perigastric (adventitial) varix (1) located within the adventitial layer at the exterior border of the gastric wall. The perigastric (adventitial) varix penetrates the muscularis externa (ME) and forms a submucosal varix (2). M, mucosa; SM, submucosa; ADV, adventitia/serosa.