Artery · Heart & chest
Pulmonary Arteries
The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs to collect oxygen. Unusually for arteries, they carry oxygen-poor blood.
What it is
The pulmonary arteries carry blood from the right side of the heart to the two lungs.
Where it runs
From the right side of the heart to the lungs.
What it does
Carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs, where it releases carbon dioxide and picks up oxygen.
When things go wrong
Common problems affecting the pulmonary arteries
- Pulmonary embolism (a blood clot blocking a pulmonary artery — an emergency)
- Pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in these arteries)
Education and reference only. This explains the anatomy in plain terms and is not a diagnosis. Sudden severe chest, back or abdominal pain, sudden breathlessness, or stroke symptoms (FAST) are emergencies — call 999.
Did you know?
An interesting fact
The pulmonary arteries are the only arteries in the body that carry oxygen-poor blood, because they are heading to the lungs to collect oxygen.
Answers
Pulmonary Arteries: frequently asked questions
Why do the pulmonary arteries carry oxygen-poor blood?
Because they carry blood from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen — unlike other arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood away from the lungs.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
It is a blood clot blocking a pulmonary artery, usually having travelled from a deep vein in the leg. Sudden breathlessness, chest pain or coughing blood needs emergency care — call 999.
Related vessels
Other artery
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Blood and the circulatory system
- Gray's Anatomy for Students
- British Heart Foundation — how the heart works
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