What does the pulmonary artery transport from the heart to the lungs?

The pulmonary artery is a crucial component of the circulatory system, specifically responsible for transporting blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The blood that the pulmonary artery carries is deoxygenated, meaning it has already delivered its oxygen to the body tissues and is now low in oxygen. This deoxygenated blood travels through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it undergoes gas exchange; carbon dioxide is expelled from the blood, and oxygen is absorbed.

Understanding this function of the pulmonary artery underscores the importance of blood flow velocities and oxygen exchange processes in both health and disease. By recognizing that deoxygenated blood is carried to the lungs for reoxygenation, it emphasizes the role of the pulmonary circulation in oxygenating the blood before returning it to the heart through the pulmonary veins, ultimately supplying oxygen-rich blood to the body.