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Overview of Pulmonary Circulation

Overview of Pulmonary Circulation

The pulmonary circulation is a vital system in our body that acts as a bridge between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. It serves as a transport network for deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and then returns oxygen-rich blood back to the heart.
The process begins with the right ventricle of the heart pumping deoxygenated blood into the pulmonary trunk. This large vessel extends about 5 centimeters before splitting into the left and right pulmonary arteries. These arteries...

Overview of Systemic and Pulmonary Circulation

Overview of Systemic and Pulmonary Circulation

The systemic and pulmonary circuits are crucial components of the circulatory system, working together to transport blood between the heart, lungs, and the rest of the body. The process begins with pulmonary circulation, where deoxygenated blood is pumped from the right ventricle to the lungs via the pulmonary trunk and arteries. Upon reaching the lungs, the blood becomes oxygenated and returns to the heart, specifically to the left atrium, via the pulmonary veins.
The oxygenated blood is sent...

Overview of Systemic Arteries

Overview of Systemic Arteries

The human body is a complex, well-organized machine, and at the heart of its operations lies the circulatory system. This network of blood vessels, which includes systemic arteries, plays a vital role in maintaining life by transporting nutrients, oxygen, and waste products to and from cells throughout the body.
Systemic circulation is the part of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues and returns deoxygenated blood back to the...

Anatomy of the Circulatory System

Anatomy of the Circulatory System

The human circulatory system consists of blood, blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, around the body, and back to the heart, and the heart itself, which acts as a central pump. The systemic circuit supplies blood to the whole body, the coronary circuit supplies blood to the heart, and the pulmonary circuit supplies blood flow between the heart and lungs.

Overview of the Cardiovascular System

Overview of the Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system is a vital transportation system in the body. It comprises the heart and blood vessels and facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products.
Heart
The heart is the central pump of the cardiovascular system that circulates blood throughout the body. It comprises two atria receiving the blood and two ventricles pumping blood out of the heart. Their rhythmic contractions, called heartbeats, ensure that blood flow remains continuous.
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Fetal Circulation

Fetal Circulation

Fetal circulation is a unique system that facilitates the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products between the developing fetus and the mother. This intricate process takes place through a special organ called the placenta.
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...

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Vascular Casting of Adult and Early Postnatal Mouse Lungs for Micro-CT Imaging

Vascular Casting of Adult and Early Postnatal Mouse Lungs for Micro-CT Imaging

Published on: June 20, 2020

Lung Circulation.

Karthik Suresh¹, Larissa A Shimoda¹

¹Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Comprehensive Physiology

|April 12, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The lung has two unique circulations: pulmonary for gas exchange and bronchial for airway supply. This review covers lung circulation basics, development, and factors causing pulmonary hypertension and edema.

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Videomorphometric Analysis of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction of Intra-pulmonary Arteries Using Murine Precision Cut Lung Slices

Videomorphometric Analysis of Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction of Intra-pulmonary Arteries Using Murine Precision Cut Lung Slices

Published on: January 14, 2014

Area of Science:

Pulmonary and cardiovascular physiology.
Respiratory system anatomy and function.

Background:

The lung possesses two distinct circulatory systems: the pulmonary circulation for gas exchange and the bronchial circulation supplying airways and vessels.
Pulmonary circulation handles entire cardiac output at low pressure, featuring thinner arterial walls and less smooth muscle than systemic circulation.
Pulmonary blood flow is regulated by vascular structure, breathing mechanics, neural/humoral factors, and notably, hypoxia.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the fundamental aspects of lung circulation, including pulmonary and bronchial systems.
To discuss normal development and transition of lung circulation at birth.
To examine vasoregulation mechanisms and pathological conditions like pulmonary hypertension and edema.

Main Methods:

This article is a review synthesizing existing knowledge on lung circulation.
It focuses on physiological principles and pathological mechanisms.
No new experimental data were generated; it's based on established literature.

Main Results:

Hypoxia induces pulmonary vasoconstriction, which can lead to vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension with prolonged exposure.
Endothelial barrier dysfunction during infection/inflammation increases permeability, causing edema.
Genetic and environmental factors contribute to susceptibility for pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusions:

Understanding lung circulation's unique features is crucial for diagnosing and treating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Disruptions in barrier function and sustained hypoxic responses are key mechanisms in pulmonary hypertension development.
Further research into vasoregulation and pathological pathways can inform therapeutic strategies.