venous pulmonary system

anatomy

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July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The venous pulmonary system is a crucial part of the human cardiovascular system. It is responsible for returning oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. This system begins with venules collecting blood from the capillaries in the lungs. These venules merge into progressively larger veins, ultimately forming the four pulmonary veins. These veins carry oxygenated blood from each lung to the left atrium of the heart. The pulmonary circuit, which includes this venous return, starts at the right ventricle and involves the pulmonary artery, lung capillaries, and pulmonary veins, all working to oxygenate blood before it re-enters the heart.1

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human cardiovascular system
Venous pulmonary system
From the pulmonary capillaries, in which blood takes on oxygen and gives up carbon dioxide, the oxygenated blood in veins is collected first into venules and then into progressively larger veins; it finally flows through four pulmonary veins, two from the hilum…
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From the pulmonary capillaries, in which blood takes on oxygen and gives up carbon dioxide, the oxygenated blood in veins is collected first into venules and then into progressively larger veins; it finally flows through four pulmonary veins, two from the hilum…
Read More