Relationships between divisions of the lingular bronchus and vascularization patterns in the lingula.

Abstract

In 100 left human lungs the main bronchus, the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary veins were injected with 65% methyl methacrylate (Duracryl) and then digested in sulphuric acid. The resulting specimens were studied concerning the divisions of the lingular bronchus and the types of arterial and venous vascularization of the lingula. As a rule the lingular bronchus divided into two segmental bronchi. A single lingular artery was found in 80% of the cases and a single lingular vein in 58%. Atypical bronchial divisions were almost always associated with unusual types of vascularization. Patterns of bronchial division showed complete concordance with those of arterial vascularization of the lingula in 64% of the lungs and consistency with venous drainage patterns in 54%.