Right superior pulmonary vein
Vena pulmonalis dextra superior
The vein draining the upper and middle lobes of the right lung, passing behind the superior vena cava to the left atrium.
At a glance
- English
- Right superior pulmonary vein
- Latin (TA2)
- Vena pulmonalis dextra superior
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Trunk
- Side
- Single, on the midline
About the right superior pulmonary vein
The right superior pulmonary vein returns oxygenated blood from both the upper lobe and the middle lobe of the right lung. It is a valveless vessel and, like all pulmonary veins, carries blood rich in oxygen towards the left side of the heart.
Its tributaries from the upper lobe are the apical, anterior and posterior veins, named after the segments they drain, running largely in the planes between segments. The middle lobe sends a middle lobe vein, formed from medial and lateral parts. Near the hilum these join to form the main trunk. The middle lobe vein sometimes stays separate and enters the atrium on its own as an extra right pulmonary vein.
At the right hilum the superior pulmonary vein lies in front of and below the pulmonary artery, and in front of the bronchus. It passes medially behind the superior vena cava and the right atrium to open into the upper right part of the left atrium. Its close relation to the superior vena cava explains one important anomaly: in a sinus venosus defect of the atrial septum, the right upper pulmonary venous drainage commonly enters the superior vena cava or right atrium instead of the left atrium.
As with the other pulmonary veins, muscular sleeves from the atrium extend into the right superior vein and can start atrial fibrillation, so its opening is a target of catheter ablation. The phrenic nerve on the right runs close to this vein and the superior vena cava, and can be affected during ablation there. In right upper lobectomy the surgeon must identify the middle lobe tributary before dividing the vein, so as not to cut off drainage from the middle lobe.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Formed at the hilum by the apical, anterior and posterior veins of the upper lobe and the vein of the middle lobe.
- Drains into
- Opens into the upper right part of the left atrium after passing behind the superior vena cava.
- Drains
- Returns oxygenated blood from the right upper and middle lobes to the heart.
Anthromica
See the right superior pulmonary vein where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
