Questions: Which of the following represents a correct pathway that blood flows back to the heart? Cephalic vein --> Median Cubital vein --> Axillary Vein --> Brachial vein --> Subclavian vein Small Intestine --> Superior Mesenteric vein --> Inferior Vena cava --> Right Atrium All of these answers are correct Hepatic Portal vein --> Liver --> Hepatic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium Common Jugular + Subclavian --> Brachiocephalic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium

The answer is: Hepatic Portal vein --> Liver --> Hepatic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium

Explanation for each option:

1. Cephalic vein --> Median Cubital vein --> Axillary Vein --> Brachial vein --> Subclavian vein:

   • This pathway is incorrect because the Brachial vein should come before the Axillary vein. The correct order should be: Cephalic vein --> Median Cubital vein --> Brachial vein --> Axillary vein --> Subclavian vein.

2. Small Intestine --> Superior Mesenteric vein --> Inferior Vena cava --> Right Atrium:

   • This pathway is incorrect because the blood from the small intestine first goes through the hepatic portal vein to the liver before reaching the inferior vena cava. The correct pathway should be: Small Intestine --> Superior Mesenteric vein --> Hepatic Portal vein --> Liver --> Hepatic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium.

3. Hepatic Portal vein --> Liver --> Hepatic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium:

   • This pathway is correct. Blood from the digestive organs, including the intestines, flows through the hepatic portal vein to the liver. From the liver, it flows through the hepatic vein to the inferior vena cava and then to the right atrium of the heart.

4. Common Jugular + Subclavian --> Brachiocephalic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium:

   • This pathway is incorrect because the brachiocephalic vein drains into the superior vena cava, not the inferior vena cava. The correct pathway should be: Common Jugular + Subclavian --> Brachiocephalic vein --> Superior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium.

Therefore, the correct pathway is: Hepatic Portal vein --> Liver --> Hepatic vein --> Inferior Vena Cava --> Right Atrium.