American Board of Pathology (ABPath) Practice Test 2026 - Free Pathology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

The condition characterized by the obstruction of hepatic venous blood flow is Budd-Chiari syndrome. This syndrome is specifically related to the occlusion of hepatic veins, which can occur due to various underlying causes such as thrombosis of the veins. The obstruction leads to increased pressure in the hepatic circulation, resulting in symptoms like abdominal pain, ascites, and liver dysfunction due to impaired blood flow.

In contrast, cholelithiasis refers to the formation of gallstones in the gallbladder and does not directly involve hepatic venous obstruction. Hepatitis, while affecting the liver's function and possibly its blood flow, is primarily an inflammatory process rather than an obstruction of venous blood flow. Similarly, portal vein thrombosis involves obstruction in the portal vein rather than the hepatic veins themselves, making it a different condition with its own set of implications for liver blood flow. Thus, Budd-Chiari syndrome is distinctly associated with hepatic venous obstruction, which is why it is identified as the correct answer.