Pulmonary veins

Definition

Pulmonary veins are blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium of the heart. Unlike most veins, which carry deoxygenated blood, pulmonary veins are unique because they transport blood rich in oxygen.

Related terms

Atrium: The upper chambers of the heart that receive blood coming into the heart; the left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the pulmonary veins.

Oxygenated Blood: Blood that carries a high level of oxygen, typically found in arteries and the pulmonary veins, ready to be delivered to tissues throughout the body.

Deoxygenated Blood: Blood carrying a low level of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide, usually found in veins (excluding pulmonary veins), returning to the heart to be re-oxygenated