Human Anatomy, Part 1 - K. A. Dyubenko, A. K. Kolomiysev, Yu. B. Chaykovsky 2002

Special Part
Respiratory System, systema respiratorium [respiratory apparatus, apparatus respiratorius] - General Overview
Lungs

The Lungs, pulmones (Greek pneumon, hence Pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs), are paired respiratory Organs located within the pleural cavities. They perform gas exchange between inhaled air and Blood. In shape, they resemble irregular cones. The right lung is shorter and wider than the left and has a larger volume (Fig. 290). Each lung has a base, basis pulmonis; an apex, apex pulmonis; and three surfaces: the costal surface, facies costalis; the medial surface, facies medialis; and the diaphragmatic surface, facies diaphragmatica. The medial surface is divided into two parts: the mediastinal part, pars mediastinalis; and the vertebral part, pars vertebralis. On the mediastinal part, there is the cardiac impression, impressio cardiaca; and the hilum of the lung, hilum pulmonis. Through the hilum, the main Bronchi, nerves, and pulmonary Arteries enter the lungs, while Pulmonary Veins and Lymphatic vessels exit, forming the ROOT of the lung, radix pulmonis.

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Fig. 290. Lung, pulmo (right). Mediastinal surface, facies mediastinalis

The surfaces of the lungs are separated by margins: the inferior margin, margo inferior (separating the inferior surface from the medial and costal surfaces), and the anterior margin, margo anterior (between the medial and costal surfaces). On the anterior margin of the left lung, there is the cardiac notch, incisura cardiaca (Fig. 291). Directly beneath it lies a Tongue-like projection, the lingula of the left lung, lingula pulmonis sinistri.

The lungs are divided into lobes, lobi, by interlobar fissures. The right lung has the following lobes: superior lobe, lobus superior; middle lobe, lobus medius; and inferior lobe, lobus inferior, which are separated by the horizontal fissure, fissura horizontalis, and the oblique fissure, fissura obliqua. The left lung has two lobes: the superior lobe, lobus superior, and the inferior lobe, lobus inferior, separated by the oblique fissure.

Fig. 291. Lung, pulmo (left). Mediastinal surface, facies mediastinalis