Morphometry of pulmonary veins in man

Resin casts of the pulmonary veins were made from the lungs of two women and one man. Branches were classified by Strahler orders, the number of branches in each order was counted, and their mean diameter and mean length determined. All branches down to 1.0 mm diameter were studied on each of the casts, and a sample of branches down to 0.2 mm diameter was studied on one cast. From the data thus obtained a dimensional model of the pulmonary veins was elaborated and compared with a previously obtained model of the pulmonary arteries. The venous volume was calculated to be 74 ml, 80% of which is located in the upper six orders.