What are the pulmonary arteries?
The pulmonary arteries are blood vessels responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood and waste products via peripheral circulation from the heart to the lungs. Together with the pulmonary veins, they make up the pulmonary circulation (also called "heart-lung circulation" or "small circulation") or part of the circulatory system. Pulmonary circulation is a part of the cardiovascular system and is responsible for carrying deoxygenated blood and waste products from all the organs and tissues of the body away from the heart, to the lungs, and returning oxygenated blood back to the heart, as well as enriched nutrients to all other organs and tissues.
In the systemic circulation (or “large circulation”) which is the part of the circulatory system responsible for sending oxygenated blood to all other organs and tissues, veins are concerned with the transport of deoxygenated blood and waste products, while the arteries are given the task to transport oxygenated blood, while the. The system is reversed in the pulmonary circulation, where the pulmonary arteries are in fact the only arteries in the human body to carry deoxygenated blood and waste products.
In the heart, the pulmonary artery begins at the base of the right ventricle. It is short, about 5 cm in length and wide, approximately 3cm in diameter. It then divides into two pulmonary arteries: the right pulmonary artery and the left pulmonary artery. The right pulmonary artery is longer and thicker than the left pulmonary artery. Each goes through the lungs and is accompanies by two pulmonary veins as well as the main bronchus. Once entered into the lungs, the pulmonary arteries, following the trend of the bronchi, divide further into alveoli. Alveoli are structures in which gas exchange occurs (the process of blood oxygenation).
Conditions affecting the pulmonary artery may include pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disorder that occurs when blood pressure in the arteries rises above normal levels. This tends to happen when the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed, making it difficult for blood to flow through the vessels. It can further lead to shortness of breath, leg swelling, tiredness, dizziness, fainting and other symptoms as well as heart problems, lung disease or even pulmonary embolism.
Pulmonary embolism refers to blockage of one of the pulmonary arteries in the lungs. In most cases, it is caused by blood clot formations and is linked with deep vein thrombosis, which is a condition where blood clots form in the deep veins within the body (typically in the legs). This condition is a common cause of death in individuals suffering from cancer and stroke. Seeking treatment is essential in order to prevent further complications from arising and greatly reduce the risk of death.
What function do pulmonary arteries serve?
The most important function of the pulmonary arteries is to carry deoxygenated blood and waste products via peripheral circulation from the heart to the lungs, where the transformation process occurs. The human body cannot live and grow without oxygen; hence the pulmonary arteries are of great importance in this field.
