You are on page 1of 3

Vasculature of the Lungs

Learning Objectives
At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:

1. Describe the origin, course and termination of Bronchial vessels


2. Discuss the origin, course and termination of pulmonary vessels

Lecture Outline

Vessels Supplying Lung


Blood supply of lungs comprising of two groups of vessels
Bronchial Vessels
Bronchial Arteries
Bronchial Veins
Pulmonary Vessels
Pulmonary Arteries
Pulmonary Veins

Bronchial arteries and veins


The bronchial arteries and veins constitute the 'nutritive' vascular
system of the pulmonary tissues (bronchial walls and glands, walls
of large vessels, and visceral pleura).

They interconnect within the lung with branches of the pulmonary


arteries and veins.

Bronchial arteries
The bronchial arteries supply the supporting tissues of the
lungs and visceral pleura.

Left bronchial arteries arise from the superior thoracic


aorta.

The superior left bronchial artery arises at vertebral level T5


and the inferior left bronchial artery below the left bronchus
The origin of the right bronchial artery is variable; in order of frequency, it may
arise
from a right posterior intercostal artery (usually the 3rd),

from a common trunk shared with the left superior bronchial artery, or

directly from the aorta.

Bronchial veins
The bronchial veins drain only part of the blood supplied to
the lungs by the bronchial arteries, primarily that distributed to
or near the more proximal part of the roots of the lungs.

The remainder of the blood is drained by the pulmonary


veins, specifically that returning from the visceral pleura, the
more peripheral regions of the lung, and the distal components
of the root of the lung.

The right bronchial vein drains into the azygos vein

The left bronchial vein drains into the accessory hemiazygos vein or the left superior
intercostal vein

Bronchial veins also receive some blood from esophageal veins.

Pulmonary Vessels
Each lung has a large pulmonary artery supplying blood to it and two pulmonary veins
draining blood from it

The right and left pulmonary arteries arise from the pulmonary trunk at the level of the
sternal angle and carry poorly oxygenated blood to the lungs for oxygenation.

Each pulmonary artery becomes part of the root of the corresponding lung and gives off
its first branch to the superior lobe before entering the hilum.

Pulmonary Arteries
Within the lung, each artery descends postero-lateral to the main bronchus and divides
into lobar and segmental arteries.

Consequently, an arterial branch goes to each lobe and broncho-pulmonary segment of


the lung, usually on the anterior aspect of the corresponding bronchus.
The arteries and bronchi are paired in the lung, branching simultaneously and running
parallel courses.

Pulmonary Veins
The pulmonary veins, two on each side, carry well-oxygenated blood from the lungs to
the left atrium of the heart
.
Beginning in the pulmonary capillaries, the veins unite into larger and larger vessels.

The pulmonary veins run independently of the arteries and bronchi, coursing between and
receiving blood from adjacent segments as they run toward the hilum.

The veins from the visceral pleura drain into the pulmonary veins.

The veins from the parietal pleura join systemic veins in adjacent parts of the thoracic
wall.

You might also like