Quick Facts
The pulmonary arteries convey deoxygenated blood toward the lungs (Dorland, 2011).
Related parts of the anatomy
Structure/Morphology
The pulmonary arteries and their branches supply deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. The more proximal pulmonary arteries and their branches are elastic arteries and extend to the junctions of the bronchi and terminal bronchioles. Muscular type arteries are found more distally and branch into arterioles that extend to the alveolar saccules. The arterioles deliver blood, under low pressure, to the extensive network of capillaries that surround the alveoli (Ovalle et al., 2013).
Function
The pulmonary arteries are responsible for supplying deoxygenated blood to the alveoli in order for gas exchange to occur.
References
Dorland, W. (2011) Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 32nd edn. Philadelphia, USA: Elsevier Saunders.
Ovalle, W. K., Nahirney, P. C. and Netter, F. H. (2013) Netter's Essential Histology. ClinicalKey 2012: Elsevier Saunders.
