Vascular supply to the lungs
General
The lungs are used for breathing (ventilation) and ensures oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide release.
Anatomy of air ducts
- Right lung -
Pulmodexter - Left lung -
Pulmo sinister - Nasal cavity - Cavitas nasi
- Oral cavity - Cavitas oris
- Throat - Pharynx
- Larynx - larynx
- Windpipe (approx. 20 cm) - Trachea
- Bifurcation of the windpipe -
Bifurcatio tracheae - Right main bronchus -
Bronchus principalis dexter - Left main bronchus -
Bronchus principalis sinister - Lung tip - Apex pulmonis
- Upper lobe - Superior lobe
- Inclined lung cleft -
Fissura obliqua - Lower lobe -
Inferior lobe - Lower edge of the lung -
Margo inferior - Middle lobe -
Lobe medius
(only on the right lung) - Horizontal cleft lung
(between upper and middle lobes on the right) -
Horizontal fissure
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
- Bronchiole
(cartilage-free smaller
Bronchus) -
Bronchiolus - Branch of the pulmonary artery -
Pulmonary artery - End bronchiole -
Respiratory bronchiolus - Alveolar duct -
Alveolar duct - Alveolar septum -
Interalveolar septum - Elastic fiber basket
of the alveoli -
Fibrae elasticae - Pulmonary capillary network -
Rete capillare - Branch of a pulmonary vein -
Pulmonary vein
You can find an overview of all Dr-Gumpert images at: medical illustrations
Arterial supply
In the lung a distinction is made two types of vascular supply (Vascular supply to the lungs). Once the deoxygenated blood from the heart reaches the lungs via the Pulmonary arteries (Pulmonary arteries). These vessels are called public vessels (Vasa publica), as they do not supply the lungs with oxygen, but rather the blood is only enriched with oxygen in the lungs. The pulmonary arteries run together with the Bronchi and the arterial bronchial branches directly in the individual lung segments (intrasegmental course) (Vascular supply to the lungs).
Venous drainage
The oxygen-rich blood leaves the lungs again via the Pulmonary veins (Pulmonary veins) to the heart. The pulmonary veins run separately from the rest of the vessels between the individual lung segments (intersegmental course).
The actual oxygen supply to the lungs occurs through Bronchial branches (Rami Bronchiales). These arise directly from the main artery (aorta) and are, because they only supply the lungs with oxygen, as private vessels (Vasa Privata) designated. It is important to know that the lungs cannot supply themselves with the oxygen they breathe in, but that it is supplied with oxygen via the bronchial branches. This is due to the fact that the vascular walls in most areas of the lungs are too thick and therefore the oxygen contained in the breath cannot pass (diffuse) directly into the lungs. Only in the Pulmonary alveoli the oxygen diffuses into the smallest pulmonary capillaries, which then combine to form larger vessels and flow to the heart as pulmonary veins (Vascular supply to the lungs).
