Pulmonary Arteries



Pulmonary Arteries


Melissa L. Rosado-de-Christenson, MD, FACR

Gerald F. Abbott, MD



Terminology


Abbreviations



  • Secondary pulmonary lobule (SPL)


Overview of Pulmonary Arteries


Morphology



  • Branching tapering tubular structures


  • Terminate in capillary network of alveolar walls


  • Bronchoarterial bundle



    • Pulmonary arteries


    • Airways


Function



  • Conduit of deoxygenated blood from right heart to capillary-alveolar interface


  • Collateral blood flow via vascular anastomoses with bronchial arteries


Anatomy of Pulmonary Arteries


General Concepts



  • Right ventricle gives rise to pulmonary trunk


  • Pulmonary trunk gives rise to right and left pulmonary arteries


  • Pulmonary artery branches



    • Lobar


    • Segmental


    • Subsegmental


Histology



  • Proximal large pulmonary arteries → elastic arteries


  • Distal small pulmonary arteries → transition to muscular arteries at level of bronchiole


  • Smallest pulmonary arteries → loss of smooth muscle in vessel wall


Imaging of Normal Arteries


Imaging Anatomy



  • Central pulmonary arteries course and branch alongside bronchi



    • Medial to bronchi in upper lobes


    • Lateral to bronchi in middle lobe, lingula, and lower lobes


  • Peripheral pulmonary arteries course along bronchioles


  • Lobular artery of SPL



    • Central or centrilobular location in SPL


    • Measures approximately 1 mm in diameter


    • Lobular core; central portion of SPL containing pulmonary artery and adjacent bronchiole


Imaging Features

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Sep 20, 2016 | Posted by in RESPIRATORY IMAGING | Comments Off on Pulmonary Arteries

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