Page 159 - Feline diagnostic imaging

160 9 Normal Radiographic Anatomy
lies dorsal to the vein, separated by the corresponding The artery lies lateral to the vein, again separated by the
bronchus. The artery and vein should be relatively equal corresponding bronchus (Figure 9.10b). The arteries and
in size, and smaller than the diameter of the proximal veins should be equal in size, and smaller than the ninth
third of the fourth rib. The cranial pulmonary artery has a rib, where they intersect. Typically, the arteries can be
mean vessel to rib ratio of 0.70, with the vein having a traced to their origin cranially (main pulmonary artery),
mean ratio of 0.69. The normal range for the right cranial while the veins terminate more caudally in the left atrium.
lobar artery should be 0.5–1.0 times the proximal third of Caudal lobar vessels may be best identified on the DV
the fourth rib. The cranial lobar veins should be 0.2 ± rather than VD view, as the vessels are contrasted by non-
0.03 cm in diameter at the same level [7]. The caudal lobar dependent, inflated caudal lung lobes, and are somewhat
vessels are best visualized individually on VD/DV images. magnified.

References

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Anatomy for Veterinarians (eds. L. Hudson and W. pulmonary vasculature in the cat. Vet. Radiol. Ultrasound
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