What is the pulmonary artery?

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The pulmonary artery is called the pulmonary artery (pulmonary trunk). Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a short, wide artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

Summary

The pulmonary artery is called the pulmonary artery (pulmonary trunk). Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes it as a short, wide artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.

What it is

  • A short, wide artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
  • Divides into a right and a left pulmonary artery.
  • The only artery in the body carrying deoxygenated blood.

Where it is

  • Arises from the right ventricle.
  • Passes upward and to the left before dividing beneath the arch of the aorta.
  • The two branches enter the lungs at the hila.

Sources

According to Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (1918, public domain):

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