Right lower lobe

The right lower lobe (RLL) is one of three lobes in the right lung. It is separated from the right upper lobe superiorly and the middle lobe anteriorly by the right oblique fissure and is subdivided into five bronchopulmonary segments.

Gross anatomy

Location and structure

The right lower lobe lies in the posterior and lower aspect of the right hemithorax and contains five bronchopulmonary segments:

• superior segment
• anterior segment
• medial segment
• lateral segment
• posterior segment

Like all the pulmonary lobes, it is lined by visceral pleura which reflects at the pulmonary hilum where it is continuous with the parietal pleura. The right lower lobe bronchus arises as a direct continuation of the bronchus intermedius to traverse the right hilum into the right upperlower lobe.

The right lower lobe is separated from the right upper lobe superiorly and the middle lobe anteriorly by the right oblique fissure.

Blood supply

Arterial supply

Like all the lobes of the lung, the right lower lobe has dual arterial supply:

• deoxygenated blood from the right lower lobar pulmonary artery
• oxygenated blood from branches of the right bronchial arteries

Venous drainage

Venous drainage of newly oxygenated blood is via the right inferior pulmonary vein into the left atrium.

Right bronchial veins drain into the azygos vein.

Lymphatic drainage

The superficial subpleural lymphatic plexus drains the lung parenchyma and visceral pleura to the bronchopulmonary (hilar) lymph nodes in the hilum.

The deep bronchopulmonary lymphatic plexus (in the bronchial submucosa and peribronchial interstitium) drains the root of the lung to hilar lymph nodes in the hilum.

The hilar lymph nodes then drain to the tracheobronchial lymph nodes.

Innervation

• parasympathetic fibres from the vagus nerve (CN X)
• sympathetic fibres from the paravertebral sympathetic trunks

Related pathology

• right lower lobe collapse
• right lower lobe consolidation