[TA] the shorter of the two terminal branches of the pulmonary trunk, it pierces the pericardium to enter the hilum of the left lung. Branches ramify and are distributed with the segmental and subsegmental bronchi; frequent variations occur. Typical branches: of the superior lobar arteries [TA] (arteriae lobares superiores pulmonis, under arteria [TA]) are the apical segmental artery [TA] (arteria segmentalis apicalis (dextri et sinistri) [TA]), anterior segmental artery [TA] (arteria segmentalis anterior pulmonis (dextri et sinistri) [TA]), and posterior segmental artery [TA] (arteria segmentalis posterior pulmonis (dextri et sinistri) [TA]), with the latter two having ascending and descending branches [TA] (rami ascendens et descendens [TA]); of the lingular artery [TA] (arteria lingularis [TA]) are the superior lingular artery [TA] (arteria lingularis superior [TA]) and inferior lingular artery [TA] (arteria lingularis inferior [TA]); and of the inferior lobar arteries [TA] (arteriae lobares inferiores pulmonis, under arteria [TA]) are the superior segmental artery [TA] (arteria segmentalis superior pulmonis (dextri et sinistri) [TA]) and a basal part [TA] (pars basalis [TA]) giving rise to anterior, posterior, lateral, and medial basal segmental arteries [TA] (arteriae segmentales basales anterior, posterior, lateralis et medialis [TA]). SYN: arteria pulmonalis sinistra [TA].