Lungs
The lungs are the main organ of the respiratory system. Although the actual structures themselves don't do much, they hold the alveoli, which control the gas exchange. The exchange happens through the membrane of the lungs. The lungs are placed behind your breast plate, protected by your ribs. Despite the popular belief, the lungs are actually not a muscle. They expand and contract because of the diaphragm. Since they do expand and contract, they have to have a way to prevent from damaging themselves by the outside structures. The lungs are surrounded by the thoracic cavity which is covered by parietal pleura, a membrane that secretes pleural fluid. The lungs are covered with an analogical substance called the visceral pleura. The pleural fluid helps the lungs glide along the walls of the cavity when they expand and not to be punctured.
The lungs are made out of lobes, almost like heart chambers. The right lung has 3 lobes and the left one has 2. Each lobe has its own bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. The point of lobes is to increase the surface area inside the lungs.
The lungs are made out of lobes, almost like heart chambers. The right lung has 3 lobes and the left one has 2. Each lobe has its own bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. The point of lobes is to increase the surface area inside the lungs.