pulmonary vein

noun

: a valveless vein that returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

Examples of pulmonary vein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pulmonary veins lead the now oxygen-rich blood back to the left side of the heart, where the process continues.1 How Arteries Differ From Veins Arteries and veins are both types of blood vessels. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024

The notable exception is the pulmonary veins that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart, which is pumped into arteries to go to the body.2 Additionally, the structure of arteries and veins has some important differences. —Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 1 Aug. 2024

Doctors close a wound to the left pulmonary vein, then try to revive her with two hours of chest massage — first externally and then directly to the heart. —Jocelyn Noveck, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022

Four openings were designed to lead to the aorta, the vena cava, the pulmonary artery, and the pulmonary vein; a cable connected it to a black dictionary-size control box. —Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2021

At the back of the organ, Lefrak left the pulmonary veins intact, slicing instead into the top of the damaged heart itself, leaving behind cuffs of tissue from Baisey's left and right atria. —oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019

Life beyond football Off the field, Montgomery developed a relationship with Hunter Erb, an elementary-age boy with pulmonary vein stenosis. —Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, 15 Apr. 2019

Montgomery displayed leadership off the field in his relationship with Hunter Erb, a 6-year-old who has pulmonary vein stenosis. —Scott Springer, Cincinnati.com, 28 Feb. 2019

In people who have this condition, the pulmonary veins, which drain blood from the lungs back into the left atrium, get irritable and start making the heart contract maniacally. —Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, 22 June 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1704, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pulmonary vein

noun

: a vein that returns oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart

Medical Definition

pulmonary vein

noun

: any of usually four veins comprising two from each lung that return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the superior part of the left atrium, that may include three veins from the right lung if the veins from all three lobes of the right lung remain separate, and that may include a single trunk from the left lung if its major veins unite before emptying into the left atrium