alveolarartärerna

Alveolarartärerna, often referred to as alveolar arteries in English, are blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the alveoli of the lungs. These arteries are part of the pulmonary circulation, a low-pressure system that transports blood between the heart and the lungs. The alveolar arteries originate from the pulmonary artery, which carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. As the pulmonary artery enters the lungs, it branches into smaller and smaller vessels, eventually forming a dense network of capillaries that surround the alveoli.

These capillaries form the alveolar capillary membrane, which is the site of gas exchange. Oxygen from the inhaled air diffuses from the alveoli into the blood in the alveolar capillaries, while carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled. The oxygenated blood then collects in venules, which merge to form the pulmonary veins, carrying the oxygen-rich blood back to the left atrium of the heart. The alveolar arteries play a crucial role in maintaining efficient oxygenation of the blood and the removal of carbon dioxide from the body. Their extensive network ensures that a large surface area is available for gas exchange, which is essential for cellular respiration and overall physiological function.