当肝在功能上是消化系统的一部分时，那么它在血液循环中也起着非常重要的作用。肝被称为心脏的接待室，因为它通过门静脉收集和运送所有胃肠的血液到右心。肝通过两个血管系统接受血液，即门静脉和肝动脉。

　　While the liver is technically part of the gastrointestinal system， it also plays an important role in blood circulation. The liver has been called the antechamber of the heart because it collects and processes all of the gastrointestinal blood through the portal vein and delivers it to the right side of the heart. The liver receives blood through two vascular systems， the portal vein and hepatic artery.