Main Pulmonary Artery
- Origin and course
- Arises from the base of right ventricle and proceeds towards the lungs.
- The artery is short and wide (about 5cm in
length and 3cm in diameter).
- Extends upward from right ventricle and
ends by branching into right and left pulmonary arteries of nearly equal
size below the Carina (T5)..
- Branches
- The right pulmonary artery is longer and
larger and runs horizontally outward in front of right main bronchus and
behind the superior vena cava, to the base of the right lung where it
divides in two branches.
- The left pulmonary artery is shorter
- It runs horizontally over the left
upper division bronchus, to the base of the left hilum
where it divides into two branches..
- Relationship
- Main Pulmonary
artery
- Ascending Aorta is to the right
- Pleura and left lung anteriorly
- Left atrium and Ascending Aorta posteriorly
- Right Pulmonary artery
- Anteriorly Ascending Aorta, SVC and
Right Pulmonary Vein
- Posteriorly Esophagus and Right main
bronchus
- Left Pulmonary artery
- Posteriorly, Descending Aorta left
main bronchus
- Supplies
- Brings venous blood to Lungs from right
heart.
- Appearance in
- CXR PA view in a patient with pneumomediastinum. Note the direction of right pulmonary artery.
- CXR Lateral view view in a patient with pneumomediastinum. The end on view of right pulmonary artery.
- CXR Lateral view shwoing arch of left pulmonary artery
- Angiogram
- CT
