The pulmonary artery is the artery that conveys blood from
the heart to the lungs - where it is oxygenation for circulation around
the body again (via the heart).
This is the only artery in the body that carries deoxygenated blood,
as all of the other arteries in the body convey oxygenated blood
from the heart to organs and tissues around the body.
The pulmonary artery leaves the right
ventricle of the heart (via the
pulmonary
valve), then passes upwards for approx 5cm before dividing
into two branches. The two branches of the pulmonary artery go to each
of the two lungs.
The pulmonary arteries divide into many arterioles and then capillaries
within the lungs. The blood is oxygenated as it flows through the capillaries.
It is then returned to the heart via the pulmonary
veins.
To view a diagram showing the position of the pulmonary artery relative
to the positions of other major
veins
and arteries, visit the page about Systemic
Circulation. |
