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AnatomyThoraxHeartPulmonary veins
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AnatomyThoraxHeartPulmonary veins

Pulmonary veins

Author: Edwin Ocran, MBChB, MSc • Reviewer: Dimitrios Mytilinaios, MD, PhD
Last reviewed: October 30, 2023
Reading time: 1 minute

Recommended video: Pulmonary veins [02:11]
Anatomy and function of the right and left pulmonary veins.
Pulmonary veins
Venae pulmonales
1/17
Synonyms: none

The pulmonary veins are large valveless vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. These veins are unique in that, unlike other veins of the body which transport deoxygenated blood, the pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood.

They typically consist of four individual veins, with two arising from the hilum of each lung, a superior pulmonary vein and an inferior pulmonary vein. From their origin, they course medially, anterior to the descending thoracic aorta and through the pericardial sac to enter the superior aspect of the left atrium on its smooth posterior wall.

The pulmonary veins are formed from lobar veins which receive intra- and intersegmental veins within the lung parenchyma as tributaries.

Terminology English: Pulmonary veins
Latin: Venae pulmonales
Definition Large vessels that return oxygen-rich blood to the left atrium following gaseous exchange in the lungs.

Learn more about the cardiovascular system with the following study unit:

Cardiovascular system Explore study unit

Sources

All content published on Kenhub is reviewed by medical and anatomy experts. The information we provide is grounded on academic literature and peer-reviewed research. Kenhub does not provide medical advice. You can learn more about our content creation and review standards by reading our content quality guidelines.
  • Drake, R., Vogl, W., Mitchell, A. & Gray, H. (2015). Gray's anatomy for students. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier.
  • Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F., & Agur, A. M. R. (2014). Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Standring, S. (2016). Gray's Anatomy (41st ed.). Edinburgh: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone

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