Which organ receives nutrient-rich blood via the hepatic portal vein for processing?

• A. Stomach
• B. Heart
• C. Liver
• D. Lungs

Answer: (C)

After nutrients are absorbed in the digestive tract, they enter the hepatic portal circulation, which carries nutrient-rich blood to the liver via the hepatic portal vein for processing. The liver then metabolizes nutrients, stores glycogen, and detoxifies substances before releasing materials into the general bloodstream. This is why the organ receiving nutrient-rich portal blood is the liver. The stomach isn’t the recipient of portal blood for processing; its contents are digested locally and its blood mix eventually routes through the portal system but the processing powerhouse for absorbed nutrients is the liver. The heart and lungs operate in the systemic circulation, not the hepatic portal system, so they don’t receive portal blood from the digestive tract.