Bronchopulmonary segment
Segmentum bronchopulmonale
Definition
A bronchopulmonary segment is an anatomical and functional unit of the lung, defined by the distribution of segmental bronchi and their accompanying segmental arteries. Each segment is supplied by its own segmental bronchus and artery, and is separated from adjacent segments by connective tissue septa, which are typically avascular. This segmentation is clinically relevant because it allows for segmental resection (segmentectomy) in pulmonary surgery, preserving lung function by removing only diseased segments while sparing healthy tissue.
Bronchopulmonary segments are consistent in number and arrangement, with the right lung typically having ten segments and the left lung having eight to ten, though anatomical variations exist.
Lobe | Segment | Number |
Righ lung | ||
Right upper lobe | Apical | S1 |
Right upper lobe | Posterior | S2 |
Right upper lobe | Anterior | S3 |
Right middle lobe | Lateral | S4 |
Right middle lobe | Medial | S5 |
Right lower lobe | Superior | S6 |
Right lower lobe | Medial basal | S7 |
Right lower lobe | Anterior basal | S8 |
Right lower lobe | Lateral basal | S9 |
Right lower lobe | Posterior basal | S10 |
Lef lung | ||
Left upper lobe | Apicoposterior (Apical + Posterior) | S1+S2 |
Left upper lobe | Anterior | S3 |
Left upper lobe (Lingula) | Superior lingular | S4 |
Left upper lobe (Lingula) | Inferior lingular | S5 |
Left lower lobe | Superior | S6 |
Left lower lobe | Anteromedial basal (often fused S7+S8) | S7+S8 |
Left lower lobe | Lateral basal | S9 |
Left lower lobe | Posterior basal | S10 |
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