Pleura (or Pleurae) and Pleural Cavity of the Lungs
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Introduction to Lungs Anatomy
- The soft, elastic lungs occupy most of the thoracic cavity and are protected from injury by the surrounding the
sternum and
rib cage.
- Both
right lung and
left lung rest on the
diaphragm muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
Continue learning about the lungs and surrounding structures of the respiratory system with these interactive quizzes and labelling exercises.
- A large portion of each lung consists of
blood vessels (arteries, veins, & capillaries) and
respiratory tubes (bronchi, bronchioles, & alveolar ducts).
- Most of the lung volume, however, is made of small clusters of alveoli. Each
alveolus is a small, thin-walled, cup-shaped sac that protrudes from the smallest air ducts.
- There are approximately 300 million alveoli in each lung, and they are the regions where gases are exchanged with nearby capillaries.