Anatomy & Physiology

Anatomy & Physiology Study Guide

Lungs The left and right lungs are located in the left and right pleural cavities, respectively. Each lung is a blunt cone, the tip of which points superiorly. The lungs have distinct lobes that are separated by deep fissures. The right lung has three lobes—superior, middle, and inferior—separated by the horizontal and oblique fissures. Separated by a single, oblique fissure, the left lung has only two lobes—superior and inferior. A majority of the heart and great vessels project into the left thoracic cavity. Therefore, the left lung is not as broad as the right. However, the left lung is longer than the right lung because the diaphragm rises on the right side to accommodate the mass of the liver. The inner contours of the rib cage cause the curving anterior and lateral surfaces of each lung. The medial surface, which contains the hilum, has a more irregular shape.

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