Pulmonaris

Pulmonaris is a Latin adjective meaning “of the lung” or “pulmonary.” It is used in anatomical and medical terminology to indicate a relationship to the lungs. The term is not a standalone structure, but a modifier that appears in various Latinized names and descriptions.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from Latin pulmo (lung) with the suffix -aris, used to form adjectives that agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. In practice, you may see pulmonaris or pulmonalis depending on the accompanying noun, in phrases such as nervus pulmonaris (the pulmonary nerve) or arteria pulmonalis (the pulmonary artery). In plural forms, the endings reflect Latin grammar.

Usage in anatomy: Pulmonaris/pulmonalis appears in historical or Latin-language anatomical texts to denote structures related to the lungs. Common examples include the pulmonary artery (arteria pulmonalis) and the pulmonary veins (venae pulmonales or vena pulmonalis, depending on number and form). The term is primarily a historical or linguistic reference in modern English, where the English cognate pulmonary is preferred.

Modern terminology: In contemporary English, pulmonary is the standard term used across medical and scientific literature to describe lung-related anatomy, physiology, and pathology (e.g., pulmonary circulation, pulmonary disease). Pulmonaris remains relevant for Latin-language sources, nomenclature in some veterinary texts, or discussions of historical anatomical terminology.

See also: Pulmonary, Pulmonology.