Difference Between Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Vein

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The main difference between the Pulmonary Artery and the Pulmonary Vein is that the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs while the pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.

  • The pulmonary artery is one of the blood vessels that delivers deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
  • It pumps blood away from the heart, unlike veins which deliver blood to the heart.
  • On the other hand, Pulmonary veins transfer oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
  • The pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation are the two circulatory systems.
  • Through the lungs, the pulmonary circulation exchanges gases that are dissolved in the blood with the external environment.
  • As a result, it creates a link between the heart and the lungs.
  • Pulmonary circulation is made up of two blood vessels: the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary vein.

Key Terms: Pulmonary Artery, Pulmonary Vein, Oxygen, Aorta, Blood vessels, Circulatory systems, Heart, Deoxygenated blood, Oxygenated blood, Pulmonary circulation, Ventricles, Carbon dioxide


What are Pulmonary Arteries?

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The pulmonary artery is a type of blood conduit that transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs and pumps blood away from the heart.

  • The artery begins in the heart near the base of the right ventricle, where the pulmonary trunk, a short and wide structure, is located.
  • The left pulmonary artery is a small artery that passes through the pericardium, the protective covering that surrounds the heart. 
  • The branches of the right and left pulmonary arteries deliver deoxygenated blood to the respective right and left lungs.
  • The blood is oxygenated and pushed back into the heart through the pulmonary veins.
  • This oxygen-rich blood enters the left atrium of the heart and is pumped to the left ventricle.
  • Finally, it is disseminated to the arteries, which carry oxygenated blood throughout our bodies, via the aorta.
Pulmonary Arteries
Pulmonary Arteries

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What are Pulmonary Veins?

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The pulmonary vein transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart's left atrium.

  • The body's four pulmonary veins transport oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
  • The oxygenated blood goes from the left atrium to the left ventricle, where it is pumped to various regions of the body.
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed from the blood as it enters the capillaries, and O2 is acquired from the alveoli.
  • The human body uses two pulmonary veins to supply blood to the top left chamber of the heart, or atrium, in each of the two lungs.
Pulmonary Veins
Pulmonary Veins


Difference between Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Veins

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The basic difference between the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary vein is that the pulmonary artery transports deoxygenated blood from the heart's right ventricle to the lungs, while the pulmonary vein transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart's left atrium. 

Pulmonary Artery Pulmonary Veins
Carbon dioxide-rich blood is carried to the lungs by the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary vein is responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood to the lungs.
The pulmonary artery originates in the heart's right ventricle. The pulmonary vein drains blood from the heart's left atrium.
The pulmonary aorta separates into one pair of pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary vein is split into two pairs.
Unlike the rest of the arteries, it transports deoxygenated blood. Unlike the rest of the veins, it carries oxygenated blood.
The wall is thick and flexible. The wall is rather thin.
There are semilunar valves present. There are no valves.
The blood pressure is generally increased. The blood pressure is generally dropped.

Things to Remember

  • The pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation are the two circulatory systems.
  • Pulmonary circulation is made up of two blood vessels: the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary vein.
  • The pulmonary artery is a type of blood conduit that transports deoxygenated blood to the lungs and pumps blood away from the heart
  • The pulmonary vein transports oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart's left atrium.
  • The pulmonary artery originates in the heart's right ventricle.
  • The pulmonary vein drains blood from the heart's left atrium.

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Sample Questions

Ques. What is the function of the left pulmonary artery? (2 Marks)

Ans. 

The primary purpose of the left pulmonary artery is to transmit unoxygenated blood from the pulmonary trunk to the left lung, where the blood vessel branches into the lungs and gas exchange occurs, reoxygenating the blood.

Ques. Which is the largest artery in the body? (2 Marks)

Ans. 

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. It transports oxygen-rich blood out from the heart and into vessels that supply the rest of the body.

Ques. Which artery carries deoxygenated blood? (1 Mark)

Ans. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs

Ques. What do you mean by pulmonary Circulatory system? (2 Marks)

Ans. The complicated system of arteries, veins, and lymphatics that transport blood and other tissue fluids between the heart, lungs, and back is known as pulmonary circulation. They're designed to provide functions such as ventilation and gas exchange that can only be performed in the pulmonary circulation.

Ques. Why is the pulmonary Circulatory important? (2 Marks)

Ans. Many vital tasks are performed by the pulmonary circulation. Its main purpose is to exchange gases across the alveolar membrane, which feeds oxygenated blood to the rest of the body while also removing carbon dioxide from circulation.

Ques. What factors affect pulmonary circulation? (2 Marks)

Ans. Under both normal and pathological conditions, several elements such as gravity, lung inflation, alveolar surface tension, and blood viscosity can influence pulmonary circulation.

Ques. Why is the pulmonary artery referred to as an artery? (2 Marks)

Ans.  The pulmonary arteries transport deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs' alveolar capillaries, where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is taken in. These are the only arteries that transmit deoxygenated blood and are classified as arteries since they transport blood away from the heart.

Ques. Why is a pulmonary vein called a vein? (2 Marks)

Ans. The pulmonary veins are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. They are still called veins because they deliver blood to the heart, whether it is deoxygenated or oxygenated.

Ques. What is the aorta's function in the heart? (5 Marks)

Ans. The aorta is the major blood vessel that connects your heart to the rest of your body. The aortic valve is where blood leaves the heart. The blood next passes through the aorta, where it forms a cane-shaped curvature that permits other major arteries to supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain, muscles, and other cells. The aorta is an important element of the body's blood circulation system. For instance,

  • The ascending aorta is a blood vessel that provides blood to the heart.
  • The aortic heart pumps blood to the brain, neck, and left arm on the left side.
  • The esophagus, pericardium, diaphragm, lump nodes, ribs, and various cardiac structures are all supplied by the descending aorta.
  • The liver, diaphragm, stomach, spleen, abdominal oesophagus, intestines, kidneys, spinal cord, and pancreas all receive blood from the abdominal aorta.

Ques. How many pulmonary veins are there in our body? Explain. (4 Marks)

Ans. Our bodies have four pulmonary veins that deliver oxygenated blood from both lungs into the left atrium separately. These four pulmonary veins act as follows:

(a) The upper right lobes, as well as the middle lobes, are drained by the right superior pulmonary vein.

(b) The left superior pulmonary vein, along with the lingula, drains the left upper lobe.

(c) There are two inferior pulmonary veins as well. 

  • The lower left lobe's drainage is handled by the left inferior pulmonary vein. 
  • The upper right lobe, as well as the middle lobe, are drained by the right superior pulmonary vein. The lower right lobe is drained by the right inferior pulmonary vein.

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