Oesophageal varices result from portal hypertension. Less than one fifth of the normal portal circulation passes through the liver due to increased resistance to flow. Hence, the majority of the splanchnic blood flow must find alternative routes back to the heart: there are several collateral channels, e.g. the middle and inferior rectal veins. However, the most important pass via the large submucous varices protruding into the lumen in the upper part of the stomach and lower end of the oesophagus. These drain the coronary vein of the stomach into the azygous and hemiazygous parts of the systemic circulation.
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