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Overview. A step-by-step explanation of how your lungs work. What are your lungs? Your lungs make up a large part of your respiratory system, which is the network of organs and tissues that allow you to breathe. You have two lungs, one on each side of your chest, which is also called the thorax.
The lungs are the major organs of respiration. They are located in the chest, either side of the mediastinum. The function of the lungs is to oxygenate blood. They achieve this by bringing inspired air into close contact with oxygen-poor blood in the pulmonary capillaries.
The human lungs are a pair of spongy organs within the thoracic cavity that facilitate gaseous exchange. They are a part of the respiratory system, which also includes the nose, nasal sinuses, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and trachea.
Each lung has three surfaces, named after their location in the thorax. They are the mediastinal surface, diaphragmatic surface, and costal surface. Lungs are protected by pleura, a thin layer of tissue that provides cushion and a small amount of fluid to help the lungs breathe smoothly.
Here is how lungs work as the center of your breathing, the path a full breath takes in your body, and a 3-D model of lung anatomy. The lungs are the main part of your respiratory system.
The right lung typically has three lobes, and the left has two. The lobes are further divided into bronchopulmonary segments and pulmonary lobules.
The lungs receive the bronchus, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves through a slit in the mediastinal surface called the hilum, and the structures entering the hilum constitute the lungs root. The right lung is larger and weighs more than the left lung.