Figure 2.

Anatomy of the portal circulation: Gastric varices due to splenic vein thrombosis tend to arise from the short gastric veins running from the hilum of the spleen to the greater curvature aspect of the stomach rather than through spleno- or gastrorenal shunts common with portal hypertensive fundal varices. IVC, inferior vena cava; PV, portal vein; SMV, superior mesenteric vein; LGV, left gastric vein; LRV, left renal vein; PGV, posterior gastric vein; SGV, short gastric vein. (Courtesy of Dr. Saher Sabri.)