Anatomy of the Lungs

• Location:

  • The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity (chest) and are protected by the ribcage.

  • The right lung is larger and has three lobes (superior, middle, and inferior), while the left lung is smaller with two lobes (superior and inferior) to accommodate the heart.

• Pleura:

  • Each lung is enclosed in a pleural membrane:

    • Visceral pleura: Adheres directly to the lung tissue.

    • Parietal pleura: Lines the chest cavity.

    • The pleural cavity between these membranes contains fluid to reduce friction during breathing.