Pulmonary artery

Pulmonary artery
Artery: Pulmonary artery
Right ventricle Left ventricle Aortic valve Mitral valve Left atrium Right atrium Aorta Pulmonary valve Tricuspid valve Inferior vena cava Superior vena cava Pulmonary artery Pulmonary veinDiagram of the human heart (cropped).svg
About this image
Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate normal blood flow. (Pulmonary artery labeled at upper right.)
Alveoli diagram.png
Diagram of the alveoli with both cross-section and external view.
Latin truncus pulmonalis, arteria pulmonalis
Gray's subject #141 543
Source right ventricle   
Vein pulmonary vein
Precursor truncus arteriosus
MeSH Pulmonary+Artery

The pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries (other than umbilical arteries in the fetus) that carry deoxygenated blood.

In the human heart, the pulmonary trunk (pulmonary artery or main pulmonary artery) begins at the base of the right ventricle. It is short and wide - approximately 5 cm (2 inches) in length and 3 cm (1.2 inches) in diameter. It then branches into two pulmonary arteries (left and right), which deliver de-oxygenated blood to the corresponding lung.

In contrast to the pulmonary arteries, the bronchial arteries supply mainly nutrition to the lungs themselves.

Contents

Role in disease

Pulmonary hypertension occurs alone and as a consequence of a number of lung diseases. It can also be a consequence of heart disease (Eisenmenger's syndrome) but equally a cause (right-ventricular heart failure); it also occurs as a consequence of pulmonary embolism and scleroderma. It is characterised by reduced exercise tolerance. Severe forms, generally, have a dismal prognosis.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • pulmonary artery — n an arterial trunk or either of its two main branches that carry oxygen deficient blood to the lungs: a) a large arterial trunk that arises from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle, ascends in front of the aorta, and branches into the… …   Medical dictionary

  • Pulmonary artery — Pulmonary Pul mo*na*ry, a. [L. pulmonarius, from pulmo, onis, a lung; of uncertain origin, perh. named from its lightness, and akin to E. float: cf. F. pulmonaire. Cf. {Pneumonia}.] Of or pertaining to the lungs; affecting the lungs; pulmonic.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pulmonary artery — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms pulmonary artery : singular pulmonary artery plural pulmonary arteries medical one of two arteries (= tubes) that carry blood from the right ventricle of your heart to your lungs …   English dictionary

  • pulmonary artery — the artery that conveys blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation: the only artery in the body containing deoxygenated blood. It leaves the right ventricle and passes upwards for 5 cm before dividing into two, one branch going to each… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • Pulmonary artery pressure — (PA pressure) is a measure of the blood pressure found in the pulmonary artery. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure is normally 9 18 mmHg.[1] Site Normal pressure range (in mmHg)[2] Central venous pressure 3–8 Right ventricular pressure systolic …   Wikipedia

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  • pulmonary artery sling — a rare cardiac anomaly in which the left pulmonary artery arises aberrantly from the right pulmonary artery and lies between the trachea and esophagus; it is frequently characterized by respiratory obstruction. See also pulmonary sling syndrome,… …   Medical dictionary

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