How many veins connect the pulmonary vascular beds to the left atrium in a normal heart?

In a normal heart, there are four pulmonary veins that connect the pulmonary vascular beds to the left atrium. These veins are responsible for transporting oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart.

The two left pulmonary veins receive blood from the left lung, and the two right pulmonary veins collect blood from the right lung. This design is essential for efficient oxygen delivery and overall cardiovascular function, allowing the heart to receive freshly oxygenated blood before it is pumped out to the rest of the body.

Understanding the anatomy of the pulmonary veins is crucial for cardiac sonographers, as imaging these structures is part of assessing heart function and diagnosing various conditions.