What is the main function of the hepatic vein?

The main function of the hepatic vein is to carry blood away from the liver. After the liver processes blood from the digestive organs via the hepatic portal vein, it needs to return this filtered blood back to the systemic circulation. The hepatic veins collect this blood and transport it to the inferior vena cava, from where it is ultimately sent back to the heart. This function is essential for maintaining proper blood circulation and ensuring that the body receives the nutrients and substances that the liver has processed.

In contrast, other options describe different vascular functions. The hepatic portal vein, not the hepatic vein, is the vessel responsible for bringing blood into the liver from the digestive organs. Supply of blood to the spleen is managed by the splenic artery, not the hepatic vein, and draining blood from the head is done by the internal jugular veins among others, not the hepatic vein. Each of these functions pertains to different processes and anatomical structures within the vascular system.