Pulmonary Arteries

The pulmonary arteries are the only arteries in the body that carry blood with low oxygen levels.  This is the blood that returns to the right side of the heart filled with carbon dioxide produced in muscles and organs from metabolism.  The pulmonary artery takes blood from the right heart into the lungs.

Pulmonary Embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that starts in the extremities and travels to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries where it gets trapped.  If the embolism is large enough it can restrict the function of the lungs and can be very dangerous.

Pulmonary Embolism Information