| Artery: Pulmonary artery
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| Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate normal blood flow. (Pulmonary artery labeled at upper right.)
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| Diagram of the alveoli with both cross-section and external view
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| Latin
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truncus pulmonalis, arteria pulmonalis
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| Gray's
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subject #141 543
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| Source
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right ventricle
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| Vein
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pulmonary veins
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| Precursor
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truncus arteriosus
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| MeSH
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Pulmonary+Artery
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The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. It is one of the only arteries (other than the 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 centimetres (2.0 in) in length and 3 centimetres (1.2 in) 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 nutrition to the lungs themselves.
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.
Pulmonary artery pressure
The pulmonary artery pressure is a measure of the blood pressure found in the pulmonary artery. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure is normally 9 - 18 mmHg.[1]
It is usually higher than the pulmonary wedge pressure.
It can be elevated in sickle cell disease.[2]
It can be used to measure pulmonary artery hypertension.[3]
Additional images
Bronchi, bronchial tree, and lungs
Front view of heart and lungs.
Transverse section of thorax, showing relations of pulmonary artery.
Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart.
The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind.Crystal.
See also
External links
- GPnotebook
- eMedicine Dictionary
- Great vessels"
- 20:07-0105 - "Heart: Openings of Great Vessels into the Pericardial Sac"
- Mediastinal surface of the right lung."
- 19:06-02 - "Mediastinal surface of the left lung."
- 13802loa
References
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