Structure of the Lungs

The lungs are divided into lobes. The right lung has three lobes, but the left lung has two lobes - it is
smaller to accommodate the heart, which is positioned below the left lung and takes up the space of
the third lobe in the chest cavity. Air enters the lungs via the bronchial tree, a series of increasingly
smaller branches off of the windpipe (or trachea). Off the windpipe, the left bronchus branches into the
left lung, and the right bronchus branches into the right lung. These bronchi then branch into
bronchioles, which terminate at the alveolar sacs. The alveolar sacs contain the small, thin-walled air
pouches known as alveoli.
Adaptations of lungs for efficient gaseous exchange

Numerous alveoli provide a large surface area

The wall of alveolus is very thin. Only one cell thick. Allows easy diffusion of O 2 & CO2.

A thin film of moisture covers the surface of the alveolus. O 2 dissolves in this liquid before
diffusing across the wall of the alveolus.

The walls of the alveoli are richly supplied with blood capillaries. The flow of blood maintains
the concentration gradient of gases

Mechanism of breathing

Inhalation

Exhalation

Your diaphragm contracts and flattens

Your diaphragm relaxes and arches upwards.

Your external intercostal muscles contract

Your internal intercostal muscles contract

while your internal intercostal muscles relax.

while your external intercostal muscles

relax.

Your ribs move up and outwards. Your

Your ribs move down and inwards. Your

sternum also moves up and forward.

sternum also moves down to its original

position.

The volume of your thoracic cavity increase.

The volume of your thoracic cavity

decreases.

Air pressure in your lungs causes them to

Your lungs are compressed and air pressure

expand to fill up the enlarged space in your

inside them increases as the volume

thorax. Expansion of your lungs causes the

decreases.

air pressure inside them to decrease.

Atmospheric pressure is now higher than the

Air pressure within the lungs is now higher

pressure within your lungs. This causes air to

than atmospheric pressure. The air is moved

rush into your lungs.

out of your lungs to the exterior.