Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. The term is contrasted with systemic circulation.

Oxygen-depleted blood from the body leaves the right heart through the pulmonary arteries, which carry it to the lungs, where red blood cells release carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen during respiration. The oxygenated blood then leaves the lungs through the pulmonary veins, which return it to the left heart, completing the pulmonary cycle. The blood is then distributed to the body through the pulmonary circulation before returning again to the systemic circulation.

While first discovered and published by Ibn-Nafis in the 13th century, it was also published by Michael Servetus in Christianismi Restitutio (1553). Since it was a theology work condemned by most of the Christian factions of his time, the discovery remained mostly unknown until the disections of William Harvey in 1616.

The pulmonary circulation loop is virtually bypassed in fetal circulation.

See also

• Systemic circulation
• Double circulatory system

External links

• Pulmonary Circulation

Cardiovascular system

Lungenkreislauf | Pequena circulação