Their job is to carry low-oxygen blood from the heart to the lungs.
There, the blood is enriched with oxygen (oxygenation), andexcess carbon dioxideis removed.
The blood is then pumped back into the heart via the pulmonary veins.
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This article will go over what the pulmonary arteries are and their function.
It also covers medical conditions linked to the pulmonary arteries.
The left and right pulmonary arteries send blood to the left and right lungs, respectively.
There is a valve between the right ventricle of the heart and the pulmonary artery.
This valve has two cusps ofconnective tissue.
When the heart muscle relaxes, the valves close to prevent blood from flowing backward.
This is very different from the walls of veins, which are thinner and less muscular.
Where Is the Pulmonary Artery in the Body?
The pulmonary artery is located at the exit of the right ventricle.
This main arterial branch is located above the heart to the left of theascending aorta.
The left pulmonary artery extends near the left side of theaorta.
These vessels go through theconnective tissue covering around the heart(pericardium).
Once the left pulmonary artery enters the left lung, it splits into smaller branches.
The right pulmonary artery goes across the upper chest and enters the right lung.
From there, the artery divides into smaller branches.
What Does the Pulmonary Artery Do?
The pulmonary arteries are key players in pulmonary circulation along with thepulmonary veinsand pulmonary capillaries.
Most arteries in the body carry oxygenated blood, but the pulmonary arteries carrydeoxygenatedblood.
Each pulmonary artery will usually divide into three to seven branches.
A pulmonary embolus is a blood clot in an artery of the lungs and is a medical emergency.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare disease that develops over time.
There arerisk factors for developing a PE, including blood clotting disorders,cancer, and prolonged physical immobility.
If you have risk factors for and symptoms of a PE, you need immediate medical attention.
Without treatment withblood thinning medicationor procedures to get rid of the clot, a PE can be fatal.
The symptoms ofpulmonary arterial hypertensioninclude fatigue, shortness of breath,coughing up blood, and leg swelling.
However, some people get this kind of hypertension without a known reason.
Summary
The pulmonary artery is a blood vessel that comes out of your heart.
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