Pulmonary trunk

Truncus pulmonalis

CardiovascularBlood vesselsThorax

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What it is
A short, wide trunk rising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle, in front of and then to the left of the ascending aorta, dividing under the aortic arch into right and left pulmonary arteries.
Function
Carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.
Size
~5 cm long, ~2.5–3 cm diameter (normally under 2.9 cm on CT).
Clinical note
With its branches it is the only adult artery carrying deoxygenated blood; a clot straddling the bifurcation is a "saddle" pulmonary embolus.

Nearby cardiovascular structures Aortic arch, Aortic valve, Ascending aorta, Left atrium, Left pulmonary artery, Mitral valve, Pericardium, Pulmonary valve, Right pulmonary artery, Superior vena cava