Vessel
Bronchial arteries
Systemic vessels supporting the airways
High-yield
The bronchial and pulmonary circulations have connections. Some bronchial venous blood reaches pulmonary veins, adding a small amount of less oxygenated blood to left atrial inflow.
Overview
Bronchial arteries bring oxygenated systemic blood to conducting airways and supporting lung tissues. Their number and origins vary considerably. A familiar pattern has two left arteries from the descending thoracic aorta and a right artery sharing an intercostobronchial origin.
Reference facts
- Origin
- Usually the descending thoracic aorta or a shared intercostobronchial trunk; extra-aortic origins and different artery counts are common
- Course
- Approach the bronchi and branch along the airway tree
- Branches
- Airway and supporting-tissue branches, with contributions to hilar nodes, esophagus and visceral pleura
- Supplies
- Conducting airway walls and associated lung connective tissue and vessels
- Drains to
- Venous return from this territory uses bronchial veins to the azygos system and connections to pulmonary veins
Clinical correlation
Enlarged bronchial arteries are an important source of severe hemoptysis, particularly in chronic inflammatory lung disease. Their systemic pressure and variable origins matter when clinicians investigate bleeding and plan embolization.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the bronchial arteries originate?
Usually the descending thoracic aorta or a shared intercostobronchial trunk; extra-aortic origins and different artery counts are common.
What do the bronchial arteries supply?
The bronchial arteries supply the conducting airway walls and associated lung connective tissue and vessels.
Where do the bronchial arteries drain to?
The bronchial arteries drain to the venous return from this territory uses bronchial veins to the azygos system and connections to pulmonary veins.
What are the branches of the bronchial arteries?
Branches of the bronchial arteries include the airway and supporting-tissue branches, with contributions to hilar nodes, esophagus and visceral pleura.