A 54-year-old man has cirrhosis, with obstruction of the portal circulation within the liver. Portal blood could still be conveyed to within caval system via which of the following?
(A) azygos and hemiazygos veins
(B) Gonadal veins
(C) External iliac veins
(D) Splenic veins
(E) Vesical venous plexus
Answer: (A) azygos and hemiazygos veins