Truncus Pulmonalis (Noun)
Meaning
The artery that carries venous blood from the right ventricle of the heart and divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The truncus pulmonalis is a vital artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.
- In a normal fetal heart, the truncus pulmonalis is a single vessel that eventually divides into the left and right pulmonary arteries after birth.
- During embryonic development, the truncus pulmonalis arises from the right ventricle and eventually splits into the two main pulmonary arteries.
- The truncus pulmonalis is a critical structure in the development of the pulmonary circulation and any abnormalities in its formation can lead to congenital heart defects.
- In some cases of congenital heart disease, the truncus pulmonalis fails to divide properly, resulting in a single vessel that supplies blood to both lungs.