Pulmonary vein

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Pulmonary vein

The Pulmonary vein is a type of blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. It is one of the few veins in the human body that carries oxygenated, rather than deoxygenated, blood.

Structure[edit | edit source]

There are typically four pulmonary veins, two from each lung. The veins are classified as the right superior, right inferior, left superior, and left inferior pulmonary veins. However, variations in the number and arrangement of pulmonary veins are common.

Function[edit | edit source]

The primary function of the pulmonary veins is to return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. This blood is then pumped by the heart to the rest of the body, supplying oxygen to the body's tissues.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Abnormalities of the pulmonary veins can lead to several medical conditions. For example, pulmonary vein stenosis is a condition in which the veins narrow, reducing blood flow from the lungs to the heart. Pulmonary vein isolation is a procedure used to treat atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disorder.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Pulmonary vein Resources
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