The paper presents an update on the mechanisms for enhanced hepatic vascular resistance to the portal circulation underlying the pathogenesis of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. In addition to gross hepatic structural disorders related to diffuse fibrosis and formation of regenerative nodules, the morphofunctional rearrangement of the hepatic vasculature is shown to play an important role in this process. It is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and impaired paracrine interaction between activated stellate hepatocytes and sinusoidal endotheliocytes, sinusoidal remodeling and capillarization, as well as intrahepatic angiogenesis.