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portal system

American  

noun

Anatomy.
  1. a vascular arrangement in which blood from the capillaries of one organ is transported to the capillaries of another organ by a connecting vein or veins.

  2. (loosely) the hepatoportal system.


Etymology

Origin of portal system

First recorded in 1850–55


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

“How do you implement a shoe scan, or do you put it in with an existing portal system where the person is already standing while screening their shoes at the same time?” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2025

This capillary network is a part of the hypophyseal portal system that carries substances from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary and hormones from the anterior pituitary into the circulatory system.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Mammals lack a renal portal system, which is a system of veins that moves blood from the hind or lower limbs and region of the tail to the kidneys.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

This network, called the hypophyseal portal system, allows hypothalamic hormones to be transported to the anterior pituitary without first entering the systemic circulation.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013

From the portal system were absorbed, through the stomach and intestines, the products of digestion.

From The Evolution of Modern Medicine A Series of Lectures Delivered at Yale University on the Silliman Foundation in April, 1913 by William Osler

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