Corpus: Bronchial veins

The bronchial veins are part of the venous system associated with the lungs' bronchial arteries, which primarily drain deoxygenated blood from the bronchi and bronchioles.

The bronchial veins follow the same path as the bronchi, accompanying them throughout the lung tissue. On the right side, they drain into the azygos vein, while on the left side, they empty into the hemiazygos vein. Additionally, some venous blood from the bronchial veins drains via anastomoses into the pulmonary veins, which normally carry oxygenated blood back to the heart.

The bronchial veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the lung's bronchial circulation, which supplies the lung tissue itself. This is distinct from the pulmonary circulation, which carries blood for gas exchange.

• Waschke J et al: Anatomy - The textbook. 1st edition, 2015, Elsevier
• Welsch U et al: Textbook Histology. 4th edition, 2014. elsevier