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    Related Topics

    From Cardiovascular System

    Dorsal Venous Arch
    Superficial venous network on the dorsum of the foot.
    Anterior Interventricular Branch
    Supplies anterior interventricular septum (LAD).
    Brachiocephalic Veins
    Formed by the union of subclavian and internal jugular veins.
    Common Iliac Veins
    Drain blood from the pelvis and lower limbs.
    Common Iliac Arteries
    Branch from abdominal aorta to supply the lower limbs.
    Internal Jugular Veins
    Drain blood from the brain and deep structures of the head.
    Great Saphenous Vein
    Longest vein in the body, running along the leg.
    Fibrous Pericardium
    Outer layer of the pericardium made of dense connective tissue.
    Left Inferior Pulmonary Vein
    Returns oxygenated blood from left lung.
    Aortic Valve
    Valve between left ventricle and aorta.
    Aortic Arch
    Curved portion of the aorta giving rise to major arteries.
    Femoral Arteries
    Main arteries supplying the thighs.
    Auricles
    Small muscular pouches of each atrium.
    Descending Aorta
    Portion of the aorta descending through thorax and abdomen.
    Right Superior Pulmonary Vein
    Returns oxygenated blood from right lung.
    Abdominal Aorta
    Part of descending aorta within the abdomen.
    Inferior Vena Cava
    Returns deoxygenated blood from lower body.
    Popliteal Arteries
    Continuation of femoral arteries behind the knee.
    Small Saphenous Vein
    Superficial vein of the posterior leg.
    Small Cardiac Vein
    Drains right atrium and ventricle.
    Left Atrium
    Receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.
    Common Carotid Arteries
    Major arteries supplying blood to the head and neck.
    Left Subclavian Artery
    Supplies the left upper limb.
    Interventricular Septum
    Wall separating the left and right ventricles.
    Posterior Interventricular Branch
    Supplies posterior interventricular septum.

    Right Pulmonary Artery

    Reviewed by our medical team

    Carries blood to right lung.

    Overview

    The right pulmonary artery is one of the two branches of the pulmonary trunk that transports deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the right lung. Despite being an artery, it carries oxygen-poor blood — a unique feature of pulmonary arteries compared to systemic arteries. The right pulmonary artery plays a central role in pulmonary circulation by delivering blood to the right lung for oxygenation.

    Location

    The right pulmonary artery arises from the pulmonary trunk at the level of the sternal angle (around T5–T6 vertebrae). It travels:

    • Horizontally to the right, passing posterior to the ascending aorta and superior vena cava

    • Anterior to the right main bronchus

    • Enters the right lung at the hilum as part of the root of the lung

    Once inside the lung, it divides into lobar and then segmental arteries to supply all regions of the right lung.

    Structure

    The right pulmonary artery is a thick-walled, elastic artery adapted for high-volume, low-pressure blood flow. It typically has:

    • Origin: Pulmonary trunk

    • Course: Longer and larger than the left pulmonary artery due to the heart's left-sided position

    • Diameter: Approximately 1.5–2.5 cm in adults

    • Wall composition: Tunica intima (endothelium), tunica media (elastic fibers and smooth muscle), and tunica adventitia

    At the hilum, the right pulmonary artery typically lies anterior to the bronchus and superior to the pulmonary veins.

    Function

    The primary function of the right pulmonary artery is to:

    • Transport deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the right lung

    There, the blood flows through smaller arteries, arterioles, and capillaries surrounding the alveoli, allowing gas exchange to occur. The now oxygenated blood returns to the left atrium via the right pulmonary veins.

    Physiological Role(s)

    The right pulmonary artery contributes to several physiological processes:

    • Gas exchange support: Delivers blood to alveolar capillaries for oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide release

    • Low-pressure circulation: Operates under significantly lower pressure than systemic arteries to protect delicate pulmonary capillaries

    • Dynamic flow adjustment: Can constrict or dilate in response to oxygen levels, optimizing ventilation-perfusion matching

    • Right ventricular afterload regulation: Its resistance influences right ventricular workload and output

    Clinical Significance

    The right pulmonary artery is central to several cardiopulmonary conditions and clinical procedures:

    • Pulmonary Hypertension: Increased pressure in the pulmonary arteries leads to right ventricular hypertrophy and failure. Often involves both left and right pulmonary arteries.

    • Pulmonary Embolism (PE): A clot may lodge in the right pulmonary artery, reducing blood flow to the right lung and causing hypoxia, chest pain, or sudden death.

    • Pulmonary Artery Stenosis: Narrowing of the right pulmonary artery (congenital or acquired) can cause reduced lung perfusion and right-sided pressure overload.

    • Congenital Heart Disease: Abnormal development of the right pulmonary artery may be seen in conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot or truncus arteriosus. Surgical correction is often required.

    • Right Heart Catheterization: The right pulmonary artery is a target site during catheter-based hemodynamic studies to measure pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output.

    • Imaging: CT pulmonary angiography and echocardiography are critical tools for assessing right pulmonary artery size, flow, and pathology.

    Timely diagnosis and treatment of right pulmonary artery-related conditions are essential to prevent complications such as hypoxemia, pulmonary infarction, or right heart failure.

    Did you know? Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, while arteries carry oxygenated blood to the body.