Pulmonary Veins
Melissa L. Rosado-de-Christenson, MD, FACR
Gerald F. Abbott, MD
Terminology
Abbreviations
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Secondary pulmonary lobule (SPL)
Overview of Pulmonary Veins
Morphology
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Branching tapering tubular structures
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Peripheral tributaries anastomose to form central pulmonary veins draining into left atrium
Function
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Collection of oxygenated blood from alveolar-capillary membrane
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Conduit of oxygenated blood to left atrium for delivery to systemic circulation
Anatomy of Pulmonary Veins
General Concepts
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Sources of pulmonary venous drainage
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Efferent veins from alveolar capillaries
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Bronchial and vascular wall capillary networks
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Septal veins of SPL
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Veins of visceral pleura
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Histology
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Mural smooth muscle and elastic lamina
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Small pulmonary veins are histologically indistinguishable from small pulmonary arteries
Imaging of Normal Pulmonary Veins
Imaging Anatomy
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Pulmonary veins travel in periphery of anatomic lung units
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Acinus
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Lobule
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Segment
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Veins of SPL
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Drain into interlobular septal pulmonary veins with tributaries from
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Alveolar-capillary network
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Bronchial artery-derived airway wall (subendothelial) capillary network
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Pleura
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Each lobular or septal pulmonary vein drains 2 or more adjacent SPLs
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Imaging Features
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SPL pulmonary veins
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May be visible in periphery of normal SPL
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Help define SPL boundaries on HRCT
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Measure approximately 0.5 mm in diameter
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Identified approximately 1-1.5 cm from pleural surfaces
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Peripheral pulmonary veins
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Periphery of pulmonary subsegments and segments
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