Left pulmonary artery
Updates to Article Attributes
The left pulmonary artery (LPA) is one of the branches of the pulmonary trunk, branching at the level of the transthoracic plane of Ludwig. It is shorter than the right pulmonary artery and represents a direct posterior continuation of the pulmonary trunk. It arches posterosuperiorly over the superior margin of the left main bronchus and when posterior to the bronchus enters the superior aspect of the hilum of the left lung where it divides
The branching pattern is variable, much more so than that of the LUL and lies medial tomain bronchus. This vessel may arise directly from the pulmonary artery or fromthat vascularize the descending pulmonary arteryleft upper lobe in various configurations 4.
The part supplying the left lower lobe may be called the descending or interlobar artery. supplies;In most cases, one or two branches are given off supplying the lingulaof the LULand the LLL, lying lateral to the left main bronchus
In the fetus, the ductus arteriosus connects the proximal left pulmonary artery to the undersurface of the isthmus of the aorta, allowing blood to bypass the lungs. At birth, the ductus closes, and overtimeover time fibroses to form the ligamentum arteriosum, which may calcify.
Related pathology
-<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->The <strong>left pulmonary artery (LPA)</strong> is one of the branches of the <a href="/articles/pulmonary-trunk">pulmonary trunk</a>, branching at the level of the <a href="/articles/thoracic-plane">transthoracic plane</a> of Ludwig. It is shorter than the <a href="/articles/right-pulmonary-artery">right pulmonary artery</a> and represents a direct posterior continuation of the pulmonary trunk. It arches posterosuperiorly over the superior margin of the <a href="/articles/left-main-bronchus">left main bronchus</a> and when posterior to the bronchus enters the superior aspect of the hilum of the <a href="/articles/left-lung">left lung</a> where it divides into upper (ascending) and lower trunks. </p><ul>-<li>the <strong>upper lobar artery</strong> supplies the <a href="/articles/lul">LUL</a> and lies medial to the left main bronchus. This vessel may arise directly from the pulmonary artery or from the descending pulmonary artery.</li>-<li>the <strong>descending </strong>or <strong>interlobar artery</strong> supplies the lingula<strong> </strong>of the LUL<strong> </strong>and the <a href="/articles/left-lower-lobe">LLL</a>, lying lateral to the left main bronchus. </li>-</ul><p>In the fetus, the <a href="/articles/ductus-arteriosus">ductus arteriosus</a> connects the proximal left pulmonary artery to the undersurface of the <a href="/articles/aortic-isthmus">isthmus of the aorta</a>, allowing blood to bypass the lungs. At birth the ductus closes, and overtime fibroses to form the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-arteriosum">ligamentum arteriosum</a>, which may calcify.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul>- +<![endif]--><!--StartFragment-->The <strong>left pulmonary artery (LPA)</strong> is one of the branches of the <a href="/articles/pulmonary-trunk">pulmonary trunk</a>, branching at the level of the <a href="/articles/thoracic-plane">transthoracic plane</a> of Ludwig. It is shorter than the <a href="/articles/right-pulmonary-artery">right pulmonary artery</a> and represents a direct posterior continuation of the pulmonary trunk. It arches posterosuperiorly over the superior margin of the <a href="/articles/left-main-bronchus">left main bronchus</a> and when posterior to the bronchus enters the superior aspect of the hilum of the <a href="/articles/left-lung">left lung</a> where it divides</p><p>The branching pattern is variable, much more so than that of the right pulmonary artery. In >90% of cases, there are 3-5 branches of the left pulmonary artery that vascularize the <a title="Left upper lobe" href="/articles/left-upper-lobe">left upper lobe</a> in various configurations <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>The part supplying the left lower lobe may be called the <strong>descending </strong>or <strong>interlobar artery</strong>. In most cases, one or two branches are given off supplying the apical segment before splitting into two terminal divisions <sup>5</sup>.</p><p>In the fetus, the <a href="/articles/ductus-arteriosus">ductus arteriosus</a> connects the proximal left pulmonary artery to the undersurface of the <a href="/articles/aortic-isthmus">isthmus of the aorta</a>, allowing blood to bypass the lungs. At birth, the ductus closes, and over time fibroses to form the <a href="/articles/ligamentum-arteriosum">ligamentum arteriosum</a>, which may calcify.</p><h4>Related pathology</h4><ul>
References changed:
- 4. Maciejewski R, Kutnik B. Branches of the left pulmonary artery vascularizing the left upper pulmonary lobe. (1990) Acta anatomica. 138 (3): 224-9. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000146944">doi:10.1159/000146944</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2389667">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
- 5. CORY RA, VALENTINE EJ. Varying patterns of the lobar branches of the pulmonary artery. A study of 524 lungs and lobes seen at operation of 426 patients. (1959) Thorax. 14: 267-80. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.14.4.267">doi:10.1136/thx.14.4.267</a> - <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13812149">Pubmed</a> <span class="ref_v4"></span>
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.