Root of the lung
(Redirected from
Hilum of lung
) | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2015) |
| Root of the lung | |
|---|---|
 Mediastinal surface of right lung. | |
 Mediastinal surface of left lung. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | radix pulmonis |
| TA98 | A06.5.01.016 |
| TA2 | 3278 |
| FMA | 268155 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The root of the lung is a group of structures that emerge at the
pleural cavities
.
Location
The root of the right lung lies behind the
right atrium, and below the azygos vein. That of the left lung passes beneath the aortic arch and in front of the descending aorta; the phrenic nerve, pericardiacophrenic artery and vein, and the anterior pulmonary plexus, lie in front of each, and the vagus nerve and posterior pulmonary plexus lie behind.[1]
Structures
Neurovascular
The root is formed by the bronchus, the
areolar tissue, all of which are enclosed by a reflection of the pleura. The chief structures composing the root of each lung are arranged in a similar manner from the front to the back on each side. This means that the upper of the two pulmonary veins are located anteriorly, the pulmonary artery is in the middle, and the bronchus and bronchial vessels are located posteriorly.[1] The arrangement on the two sides is not symmetrical.[2]
Right side: (superior to inferior) eparterial bronchus, pulmonary artery, hyparterial bronchus, and inferior pulmonary vein.[2]
Left side: (superior to inferior) pulmonary artery, main bronchus, and inferior pulmonary vein.[2]
Lymphatic
On each hilum, there are hilar bronchopulmonary lymph nodes.
Pulmonary ligament
The
parietal reflection surrounding the root of the lung extends downwards from the hilum to near the base of the lower lobe in a sleeve-like fold called the pulmonary ligament. The lower rounded edge of this is sometimes referred to as the inferior pulmonary ligament. At the lower edge of each lung, the pleural layers come into contact with each other, and terminate in a free curved edge. The pulmonary ligaments serve to anchor the larger lower lobes of the lungs in position and prevent potential torsion
.
Clinical significance
On chest X-ray, hilar enlargement can be due to lymphadenopathy and tumours (tuberculosis, bronchogenic carcinoma, lymphoma, and sarcoidosis), pulmonary hypertension or simply due to increased lung blood flow.[3]
Additional images
-
The phrenic nerve and its relations with the vagus nerve.
References
- ^ a b c
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
- ^ ISSN 0140-6736.
- ISSN 2320-8775.
External links
- Atlas image: lung_lymph at the University of Michigan Health System - "Transverse section through lung"
- thoraxlesson2 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
- Diagram at seer.cancer.gov (#21)
