American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test

The splenic vein is indeed a vessel that can become engorged due to portal hypertension. This condition occurs when there is increased pressure in the portal venous system, typically resulting from liver cirrhosis, hepatic obstruction, or certain vascular issues. When the portal circulation is compromised, blood cannot flow efficiently through the liver, which causes retrograde pressure in the portal veins, including the splenic vein.

As a consequence, blood can pool in the splenic vein, leading to splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen) and potentially affecting the splenic artery as well. Additionally, this engorgement can contribute to the formation of varices in related venous systems.

In contrast, while the hepatic artery, inferior vena cava, and superior mesenteric artery play significant roles in the vascular system, they are less directly affected by portal hypertension in the same way the splenic vein is. The hepatic artery supplies blood directly to the liver and may not necessarily become engorged as a response to portal hypertension. The inferior vena cava, being a major systemic vein, typically doesn't experience the same localized engorgement, and the superior mesenteric artery primarily supplies blood to the intestines rather than being part of the