Lung hilum

Last revised by Arlene Campos ◉ on 19 Jun 2024

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Ngo D, Campos A, Hacking C, et al. Lung hilum. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-43948

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-43948

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/43948

rID:

43948

Article created:

30 Mar 2016, Don Ngo

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Don Ngo had no recorded disclosures.

View Don Ngo's current disclosures

Last revised:

19 Jun 2024, Arlene Campos ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Arlene Campos had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Arlene Campos's current disclosures

Revisions:

11 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Vascular, Chest

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

hilum

Synonyms:

Pulmonary hila
Pulmonary hilum
Lung root
Lung roots
Pulmonary roots
Pulmonary root
Lung hila

The lung hila or roots are found on the medial aspect of each lung and transmit structures between the lung and mediastinum. The left and right lung roots are similar but not identical. The roots of the lung lie between T5 to T7 vertebrae ⁵.

The hilar point is a point where the upper lobe vein crosses over the pulmonary artery. The hilar angle is the angle between the vessels at the hilar point, which usually measures 120° ⁵.

Gross anatomy

The structures of the lung hilum are enclosed in a sleeve of pleura continuous below with the pulmonary ligament ⁵. Each hilum contains the following:

a main bronchus that divides based on the lobar anatomy
a pulmonary artery
superior and inferior pulmonary veins
lymph nodes and lymphatic channels
bronchial arteries and veins
autonomic nerves

Left hilum

The left hilum lies below the aortic arch and anterior to the descending aorta. The left main bronchus lies at the most posterior aspect of the hilum, with the left superior pulmonary vein located anteriorly and the left inferior pulmonary vein occupying the inferior portion of the hilum. The left pulmonary artery is anterosuperior to the left main bronchus. Pulmonary veins always lie anteroinferior to the pulmonary artery ⁵.

Right hilum

The right hilum lies below the arch of the azygous vein, posterior to the superior vena cava and right atrium. Right pulmonary veins are located at the anterior part of the hilum, followed by right pulmonary arteries, and lobar bronchi ⁵.