Keuhkovaltimo

Keuhkovaltimo is the Finnish term for the pulmonary artery, the vessel that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation as part of the pulmonary circulation. In Finnish medical usage it typically refers to the main pulmonary artery and its major branches.

Anatomy and course: The pulmonary artery originates from the truncus pulmonalis (pulmonary trunk) just after the right ventricle and divides into left and right pulmonary arteries. These arteries run towards the lungs, accompanying the bronchi within the hila and branching into progressively smaller arteries as they reach the lung parenchyma. The walls are relatively thin compared with systemic arteries, reflecting the lower pressure of the pulmonary circulation.

Function and hemodynamics: The pulmonary arteries transport deoxygenated blood to the alveolar capillaries for gas exchange. After oxygenation, blood returns to the left atrium via the pulmonary veins, completing the pulmonary circulation. Pressures and resistance in the pulmonary arteries are typically much lower than in the systemic circulation.

Clinical significance: Pathologies affecting the keuhkovaltimo include pulmonary embolism, which can obstruct flow within the arteries; pulmonary hypertension, which raises arterial pressure and impedes flow; and congenital anomalies such as pulmonary atresia or stenosis. Disease in the pulmonary arteries has implications for overall cardiac function and can be evaluated with imaging and hemodynamic assessment.

Diagnosis and imaging: Evaluation often uses CT pulmonary angiography or MR angiography, together with echocardiography and, if needed, invasive cardiac catheterization to measure pressures and oxygenation.

Etymology and usage: The term combines keuhko (lung) and valtimo (artery). In clinical Finnish, keuhkovaltimo denotes the pulmonary artery and its relevance spans anatomy, physiology, and radiology.