We all breathe in and out. It happens unconsciously. But have you ever wondered how the oxygen we inhale gets into the blood that circulates throughout our bodies? What is the connection between the heart and the lungs? Today we are going to talk about a very important type of blood vessel in our body that makes exactly that connection. That is the pulmonary artery , or as we call it in medicine (Pulmonary Arteries) .
What are these pulmonary arteries?
Simply put, the pulmonary artery is the blood vessel that carries oxygen-depleted blood from the right side of your heart to your lungs . In medicine, the word "pulmonary" is used to refer to anything related to the lungs.
You have one main pulmonary artery. We call it the pulmonary trunk . It is connected directly to the heart by a valve called the pulmonary valve . This valve is like a door. It controls the flow of blood out of the right ventricle of the heart. After leaving the heart, this main artery divides into two, the right and left pulmonary arteries. As the name suggests, the right artery goes to the right lung, and the left artery goes to the left lung.
You may have heard your doctor call the pulmonary artery a "great vessel." That's because it's one of the main blood vessels in the heart. Each of these great vessels connects to one of the four chambers of the heart and carries blood to and from the heart.
Remember, the pulmonary artery is the only type of artery in your body that carries deoxygenated blood. All other arteries carry oxygenated blood.
How do these work in the circulatory system? - Let's take a step-by-step look at them
The pulmonary arteries play a very important role in our circulatory system. Specifically, they belong to a part called the pulmonary circuit . This circuit carries blood back and forth between the heart and the lungs. It's like a team sport. Let's see how this team works.
This process can be understood very clearly from the table below.
| Steps | The process that takes place |
|---|---|
| 1. Right Ventricle | This lower right chamber of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood from throughout the body through the pulmonary valve into the main pulmonary artery. |
| 2. Main Pulmonary Artery | This comes out of the heart and divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries. |
| 3. Right and left pulmonary arteries | These two arteries carry blood to their respective lungs. Inside the lungs, these divide into smaller blood vessels. These eventually reach the capillaries surrounding the air sacs (alveoli). |
| 4. Lungs | This is where the most important thing happens. Carbon dioxide, a waste product in the blood, is released, and new oxygen, which we get when we breathe, is added to the blood. This is called gas exchange . |
| 5. Pulmonary Veins | These do the opposite of what the pulmonary arteries do. That is, they collect blood that has been oxygenated in the lungs and bring it back to the heart. This blood comes to the left atrium of the heart. |
| 6. Left Atrium & Left Ventricle | This oxygen-rich blood, which enters the left atrium, is then sent to the left ventricle. The left ventricle, the strongest chamber in the heart, pumps this clean blood into the aorta. |
| 7. Aorta and body | The aorta carries this blood from the highest point of the body to the lowest point of the body to every organ and tissue. We call this the systemic circuit . Then the oxygenated blood returns to the right atrium of the heart, and the cycle begins again. |
Where is the pulmonary artery located? How big is it?
These are located inside your chest cavity. The main pulmonary trunk is attached to the right ventricle, at the front of the heart. From there, it travels up the aorta to the left. It then divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries and travels to the lungs.
The main pulmonary artery is usually about 5 centimeters long. Its diameter is about 2.7 centimeters in women and about 2.9 centimeters in men.
Like other arteries, the walls of these pulmonary arteries are made up of three layers:
- (Tunica intima): Smooth inner layer.
- (Tunica media): The middle muscular layer that pushes blood.
- (Tunica adventitia): The protective outermost layer.
What are the diseases that affect these blood vessels?
The main problems that affect the pulmonary arteries are congenital heart defects . These are those that are present at birth. Some of these conditions include `(Double outlet right ventricle)`, `(Patent ductus arteriosus)`, `(Pulmonary atresia)`, `(Tetralogy of Fallot)` and `(Transposition of the great arteries)`.
In addition, there are several medical conditions that can develop after adulthood. The main ones are:
- Pulmonary embolism: A blood clot that forms and lodges in an artery in the lungs. This is an emergency.
- Pulmonary hypertension: Excessive increase in blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
- Effects of other diseases: Diseases such as heart failure, cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and obstructive sleep apnea can also affect these arteries.
How can I keep my heart and these arteries healthy?
While we cannot prevent congenital diseases, there are many things we can do to protect ourselves from diseases that develop later in life. It is especially important to properly manage diseases that contribute to conditions like pulmonary hypertension.
- Chronic lung disease (COPD)
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- Heart failure
If you have these conditions, follow your doctor's instructions exactly. In addition, do these things to maintain the overall health of your heart and blood vessels:
- Avoid smoking completely. Quit cigarettes, vaping, or any other tobacco product. Ask your doctor for help with this.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise for at least 150 minutes a week. Do something like walking, running, or cycling.
- Maintain a healthy body weight.
- If you have diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, control them well.
What symptoms should prompt you to see a doctor?
If you have one or more of the following symptoms, be sure to see your doctor. These could be signs of a serious illness.
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Difficulty breathing | Feeling short of breath even when relaxing or doing small tasks. |
| Chest pain or tightness | The feeling of tightness and constriction in the chest. |
| Dizziness or fainting | Feeling suddenly dizzy or fainting. |
| Irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia) | The heart beats fast and feels like it's skipping a beat. |
| Blue lips or skin | It may be a sign of low oxygen in the blood. |
| Swelling of the legs, ankles, or abdomen (edema) | A symptom of fluid accumulation in the body. |
| Coughing up blood | Coughing up blood with phlegm. This is a very serious emergency. Go to the ETU (Emergency Treatment Unit) immediately. |
Our pulmonary arteries are a very important part of our lives, even though they are invisible to the eye, and they work silently for our lives every second. Learning about how they work and the diseases that affect them will increase our understanding of our own bodies. It is also your responsibility to adopt a healthy lifestyle and protect these precious blood vessels.
Take-Home Message
- Pulmonary arteries are specialized blood vessels that carry oxygen-poor blood from your heart to your lungs.
- These are the only type of artery that carries deoxygenated blood in your body.
- Most diseases that affect these arteries are congenital, but there are also diseases that develop in adulthood, such as pulmonary hypertension.
- You can keep your heart and blood vessels healthy by avoiding smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and controlling diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
- If you experience symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or fainting, see a doctor immediately without delay.
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