The pulmonary veins are concerned with the circulation
of oxygenated blood around
and from the lungs.
This distinguishes the pulmonary veins from all the other veins
in the body, which carry deoxygenated blood from organs and
body tissues back to the heart.
There are 4 pulmonary veins, two for each lung.
Within the structure of the heart itself the right pulmonary veins pass
behind the right auricle,
and the left pulmonary veins (together with the
left
pulmonary
artery)
pass
in front
of the thoracic aorta.
To view a diagram showing the position of the pulmonary vein relative
to the positions of other major
veins
and arteries, visit the page about Systemic
Circulation. |
