pulmonary artery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “pulmonary artery” mean?
The major artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The major artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
The vessel structure, typically consisting of a main trunk and left/right branches, that forms the central component of the pulmonary circulation system. In medical contexts, it can also refer to the associated pathologies, imaging, or surgical interventions related to this vessel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows regional conventions for other words in a sentence (e.g., 'arteries' vs. no change). Pronunciation differences are in stress and vowel quality.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard and common in medical/biological contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “pulmonary artery” in a Sentence
The pulmonary artery carries blood from X to Y.A blockage was found in the pulmonary artery.The surgeon clamped the pulmonary artery.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pulmonary artery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The surgeon will pulmonary-artery-catheterise the patient to monitor pressure. (Highly technical/verb creation from noun)
American English
- The team decided to catheterize the pulmonary artery. (Verb used with the noun as object)
adjective
British English
- The pulmonary-artery pressure readings were concerning. (Compound modifier)
American English
- She has a pulmonary artery stenosis diagnosis. (Noun used attributively)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and physiological textbooks, research papers, and lectures.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing specific personal or family health conditions.
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical diagnosis, surgery, medical imaging reports, and pharmacology (e.g., drugs affecting pulmonary artery pressure).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pulmonary artery”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “pulmonary artery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pulmonary artery”
- Misidentifying it as carrying oxygenated blood. (It carries deoxygenated blood).
- Pronouncing 'pulmonary' as /pʌlˈmoʊnəri/ (incorrect primary stress).
- Using it as a countable noun without a determiner in singular form (e.g., 'Pulmonary artery was blocked' instead of 'The pulmonary artery...').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. It is the only artery in the body that routinely carries deoxygenated blood.
The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body.
There is one main pulmonary artery (or trunk) that exits the heart, which then splits into the left pulmonary artery (going to the left lung) and the right pulmonary artery (going to the right lung).
High pressure in the pulmonary artery (pulmonary hypertension) means the right side of the heart must work harder to pump blood to the lungs. This can lead to right heart failure and is a serious medical condition.
The major artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
Pulmonary artery is usually technical/medical in register.
Pulmonary artery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpʊlmənəri ˈɑːtəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpʊlməˌnɛri ˈɑrtəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember P for Pulmonary and Pumping to the Lungs. The Pulmonary artery is the only artery that carries blood AWAY from the heart but TOWARDS the lungs for oxygen (all other arteries carry oxygen-rich blood away).
Conceptual Metaphor
The pulmonary artery is the "exit highway" from the heart's right side, leading directly to the "oxygen refueling stations" in the lungs.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the pulmonary artery?