Pulmonary artery

Pulmonary artery refers to the artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. It is one of the few arteries in the human body that carries deoxygenated blood, with the other being the umbilical arteries in the fetus.

Anatomy

The pulmonary artery begins at the base of the heart's 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, with the left pulmonary artery supplying blood to the left lung and the right pulmonary artery supplying blood to the right lung. These further divide into smaller arteries and arterioles to reach the pulmonary capillaries where gas exchange occurs.

Function

The primary function of the pulmonary artery is to transport deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. Here, carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is absorbed. The oxygenated blood then returns to the heart via the pulmonary veins to be pumped to the rest of the body.

Clinical significance

Diseases of the pulmonary artery can be serious and life-threatening. These include pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, and congenital heart defects involving the pulmonary artery. Diagnosis and treatment of these conditions often involve a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals.

See also

• Heart
• Lung
• Blood vessels
• Pulmonary circulation

References

Pulmonary artery Resources
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