On approaching the liver, the portal vein divides into right and left branches, which enter the liver parenchyma. Tributaries to the portal vein include: right and left gastric veins draining the lesser curvature of the stomach and abdominal esophagus, cystic veins from the gallbladder, and the para-umbilical veins, which are associated with the obliterated umbilical vein and connect to veins on the anterior abdominal wall (Fig. 4.133 on p. 357).