Pulmonary Circulation Imaging: Embryology and Normal Anatomy

This review focuses on the embryology and normal imaging anatomy of the pulmonary circulation, with emphasis on the major arterial and venous vasculature. The pulmonary circulation and parenchyma have a complex intertwined embryologic origin. Understanding the embryologic basis of normal pulmonary vasculature aids recognition of anomalies and visceral situs in the chest. Adaptive changes to congenital anomalies of the pulmonary arterial vasculature are used to contrast from normal and review associated temporal adaptive vascular and parenchymal changes.