Right upper lobe bronchus

Lobar bronchi · Eparterial 3 segments

Arises from the lateral wall of the right main bronchus about 2 cm beyond the carina, above the right pulmonary artery (eparterial), and divides almost at once into apical, posterior and anterior segmental bronchi.

Traced from the start

  1. Trachea
  2. Right main bronchus
  3. Right upper lobe bronchus

Detail

Origin
Lateral wall of the right main bronchus about 2 cm from the carina, before the hilum is reached
Eparterial
The only lobar bronchus to arise above its pulmonary artery; every other lobar bronchus is hyparterial
Branches
Apical, posterior and anterior segmental bronchi, usually as a trifurcation; generation 2

When it goes wrong

Post-primary (reactivation) tuberculosis

Favours the apical and posterior segments of the upper lobes, where alveolar PO2 is highest and lymph drainage poorest; cavitation with haemoptysis

Aspiration while lying supine

Posterior segment of the right upper lobe fills, together with the superior segment of the right lower lobe

Central tumour occluding the upper lobe bronchus

Right upper lobe collapse: elevated horizontal fissure and the Golden S sign of a hilar mass with lobar collapse

Practise this structure

No question in the bank is tagged to Right upper lobe bronchus yet. Questions appear here automatically once one is — the question bank is free to browse in the meantime.