Gross and subgross anatomy of bronchial circulation in sheep

The anatomy of the bronchial artery in sheep has recently been described. However, the course of the bronchial veins has not been well established. It has been suggested that the bronchial veins are the major site of fluid leakage following histamine infusion, and it has been postulated that the bronchial circulation may play a role in fluid reabsorption. We studied the anatomy of the bronchial circulation in 18 sheep with emphasis on bronchial venous drainage and bronchopulmonary communications. Following anesthesia animals were heparinized and exsanguinated. Evans blue dye was infused into the bronchial artery in six sheep and the gross and subgross anatomy of the bronchial circulation studied. In six other sheep the bronchial artery, pulmonary artery, and tracheobronchial tree were filled with Batson's solution of varying colors. The subgross anatomy was studied under a dissecting microscope, and samples were taken for scanning electron microscopy. In six separate sheep we studied the anatomy of the proximal vein by infusing dye directly into the vein and found that the extrapulmonary bronchial blood drained into the left azygos vein via a single vessel. Intrapulmonary bronchi are surrounded by a dense bronchial microvascular plexus which drains into the pulmonary vessels at the precapillary level.