function and location of hepatic artery and vein
The common hepatic is almost always located between the bile duct and the portal vein. The course of the right hepatic artery observed in 165 specimens was as follows: anterior to the bile duct, 64%; anterior to the portal vein, 0.1%; and posterior to the portal vein, 9%. The right hepatic artery arose from the superior mesenteric in 12%.
The liver receives a dual vascular supply. 1  The hepatic portal vein brings to the liver all of the blood which has previously passed through the intestine and spleen. 2  The hepatic artery brings fresh, oxygenated blood from the aorta.