After eating, portal vein flow velocity tends to

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After eating, there is a postprandial surge in blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract (splanchnic circulation) to support digestion and nutrient absorption. This increased mesenteric blood flow channels more blood into the portal venous system, raising the inflow to the liver. As the portal vein carries this higher volume, the velocity of blood through the portal vein tends to rise, especially when the vein’s diameter doesn’t dilate proportionally to offset the increased flow. The liver’s hepatic arterial buffer mechanism may adjust arterial flow, but the dominant effect after a meal is an increase in portal venous flow and its velocity.