Bronchial artery
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2008-05-27T18:07:10Z
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{{Infobox Artery |
Name = {{PAGENAME}} |
Latin = rami bronchiales partis thoracicae aortae, arteriae bronchiales |
GraySubject = 153 |
GrayPage = 600 |
Image = Gray1032.png |
Caption = Bronchial artery labeled at center left. |
BranchFrom = [[thoracic aorta]] |
BranchTo = |
Vein = [[Bronchial veins]] |
Supplies = [[lungs]] |
MeshName = |
MeshNumber = |
DorlandsPre = r_02 |
DorlandsSuf = 12689141 |
}}
In [[human anatomy]], the '''bronchial arteries''' help supply the lungs with oxygenated [[blood]]. Although there is much variation, there are usually two bronchial arteries that run to the [[left lung]], and one to the [[right lung]].
==Origin==
The ''left bronchial arteries'' (superior & inferior) usually arise directly from the [[thoracic aorta]].
The single ''right bronchial artery'' usually arises from one of the following:
* 1) the [[thoracic aorta]] at a common trunk with the right 3rd [[posterior intercostal artery]]
* 2) the superior bronchial artery on the left side
==Distribution to lung==
The bronchial arteries supply blood to the bronchi and connective tissue of the lungs. They travel with and branch with the [[bronchi]], ending about at the level of the respiratory [[bronchioles]]. They anastomose with the branches of the [[pulmonary arteries]], and together, they supply the visceral [[pleura]] of the lung in the process.
Note that much of the blood supplied by the bronchial arteries is returned via the [[pulmonary veins]] rather than the [[bronchial veins]].
Each bronchial artery also has a branch that supplies the esophagus.
==Comparison with pulmonary arteries==
It is easy to confuse the bronchial arteries with the pulmonary arteries, because they both supply the lungs with blood, but there are important differences:
{| class="wikitable"
| [[pulmonary arteries]] || supplies ''deoxygenated'' blood pumped from the ''[[right ventricle]]'' || [[pulmonary circulation]] || relatively large
|-
| [[bronchial arteries]] || supplies ''oxygenated'' blood pumped from the ''[[left ventricle]]'' || [[systemic circulation]] || relatively small
|}
==Pathology==
The bronchial arteries are typically enlarged and [[tortuous]] in [[chronic]] [[pulmonary embolism|pulmonary thromboembolic]] [[hypertension]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kauczor H, Schwickert H, Mayer E, Schweden F, Schild H, Thelen M |title=Spiral CT of bronchial arteries in chronic thromboembolism |journal=J Comput Assist Tomogr |volume=18 |issue=6 |pages=855–61 |year= |pmid=7962789}}</ref>
==See also==
* [[Bronchial veins]]
* [[Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy]]
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
* {{SUNYAnatomyFigs|21|06|06}} - "Branches of the [[ascending aorta]], [[arch of the aorta]], and the [[descending aorta]]."
* {{BUHistology|13903loa}}
* [http://anatquest.nlm.nih.gov/aq/ImageXml?xml=DSR100006257-xsl.xml Bronchial arteries] - anatquest.nlm.nih.gov.
{{circulatory-stub}}
{{Arteries of chest}}
[[Category: Thorax]]