Which two veins form the main portal vein?

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The main portal vein is formed by the convergence of the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein, typically behind the neck of the pancreas. Blood from the spleen and much of the gastrointestinal tract drains into these two veins, which join to create the portal vein that delivers nutrient-rich blood to the liver. The inferior mesenteric vein usually drains into the splenic vein or the superior mesenteric vein rather than forming the portal trunk. The left gastric vein is a portal tributary, not a forming vessel, and the hepatic veins carry blood from the liver to the IVC, not into the portal system.