39 Questions
What is the primary function of the respiratory system?
Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
How many times do the lungs inflate and deflate during quiet breathing?
12-15 times a minute
What is the term for the surface features of the lungs?
Surface anatomy
What is the term for the region where the lungs and pleurae meet?
Lung hilum
What is the primary purpose of the lymphatic drainage of the lungs?
Removal of waste and toxins
What is the term for the structures that impress on the mediastinal surface of each lung?
Heart and major blood vessels
What is the term for the innervation of the lungs and pleurae?
Autonomic nervous system
What is the assumed state of the lungs when describing them?
Maximal expiratory state
What is the term for the indentation in the left lung to accommodate the heart?
Cardiac notch
What is the color of fresh healthy lung tissue due to its rich vascularity?
Pink
What is the color of exsanguinated lungs, that is, lungs with the blood removed?
White
What is the primary cause of the blackening of the lungs in smokers?
Toxins in cigarette smoke
What is the purpose of the machine used during the chest operation video?
To re-inflate the lungs
What is the term for the wispy lines seen on the surface of exsanguinated lungs?
Lymphatic vessels
What is the primary function of macrophages in the lungs?
To remove carbon particles and inhaled impurities
What is the main bronchus responsible for serving in each lung?
Each lung
What is the name of the functional unit of the lung that is formed by the division of lobar bronchi into segmental bronchi?
Bronchopulmonary segment
How many lobes does the left lung have?
Two
What is the name of the notch on the medial side of the left lung?
Cardiac notch
During auscultation, which area of the lungs can be obscured by the scapula?
Upper part of the lower lobe
What is the name of the part of the superior lobe of the left lung that projects in front of the heart?
Lingula
What is the lowest thoracic vertebra that the inferior margin of the scapula extends to?
7th
Which lobe cannot be heard from a posterior approach during auscultation?
Middle lobe
What is the location of the parietal pleura at the top of the chest?
Under the suprapleural membrane
What is the purpose of asking the patient to put their hands on their head during auscultation?
To rotate the scapula away from the lower lobe
Why do the lungs in the cadaver appear smaller than they would in life?
Because they are in a fully collapsed state
What structures pass through the lung root at the hilum?
Structures passing to and from the lungs
What is the significance of the oblique fissure in the lung?
It separates the lobes of the lung
What should a student be able to do after this lecture on the lungs and pleurae?
Give an account of the surface anatomy of the lungs and pleurae
What lies around the lung root?
The bronchi and blood vessels
What is the purpose of knowing the structures that impress on the mediastinal surface of each lung?
To understand the relationship between the lungs and surrounding structures
What is the location of the venae cavae in relation to the heart?
Anterior to the right atrium
What is the significance of the relationships between the left lung hilum and surrounding structures?
They are important in understanding clinical symptoms
What is the purpose of segmental bronchi?
To divide the lung into bronchopulmonary segments
What is the result of cancer of the bronchus within the lung root?
Compression of the oesophagus, causing difficulty with swallowing
How many bronchopulmonary segments are typically found in each lung?
10
What is the significance of the arch of the azygos vein?
It creates a visible arch above the right lung root
What is the advantage of segmental resection of the lung in cases of lung cancer?
It minimizes haemorrhage during surgery
What is the location of the oesophagus in relation to the left lung root?
Posterior to the left lung root
Study Notes
Lungs and Pleurae
- The lungs are mobile and inflate and deflate about 12-15 times per minute during quiet breathing.
- The lungs have an apex that projects above the thoracic inlet and a base situated over the diaphragm.
- They have a costal surface inside the rib cage and a mediastinal surface adjacent to the heart and pericardium.
- The left lung is smaller than the right due to the heart being more on the left side of the chest.
- The left lung is indented to accommodate the heart, known as the cardiac notch.
Surface Features of the Lungs
- Fresh healthy lung tissue is pink due to its rich vascularity.
- Exsanguinated lungs (with blood removed) are white in appearance.
- The surface of each adult lung is usually mottled, representing an accumulation of carbon particles and other inhaled impurities.
- In smokers, the surface of the lung can turn completely black due to the high levels of toxins in cigarettes.
The Lobes of the Lungs
- Each lung is served by a main bronchus, which divides into lobar bronchi and then segmental bronchi.
- The right lung has three lobes: upper, middle, and lower, separated by oblique and horizontal fissures.
- The left lung has two lobes: upper and lower, separated by an oblique fissure.
- The lower part of the superior lobe projects in front of the heart and is known as the lingula.
Parietal Pleurae
- The parietal pleura sits under the suprapleural membrane at the top of the chest, and behind the sternum at the front of the chest.
- The parietal pleura from each side almost touches each other at the front of the chest.
Structures Within the Lungs
- The lung root at the hilum of the lungs contains structures passing to and from the lungs.
- The right atrium of the heart with the venae cavae entering into it is anterior to the lung root.
- The arch of the azygos vein is visible above the right lung root.
- The oesophagus indents the right lung posteriorly.
- Near the apex, there is an indentation due to the subclavian vessels and 1st rib.
Relationships of the Left Lung Hila
- The structures in association with the left hilum are largely arterial.
- The heart itself lies anteriorly, creating the cardiac notch.
- The aorta leaves the heart and arches over the left lung root before becoming a posterior relation of the left lung root.
Segmental Bronchi
- The lobar bronchi further divide into segmental (tertiary) bronchi, which supply very distinct territories of the lung, known as bronchopulmonary segments.
- There are 10 bronchopulmonary segments in each lung, but often a pair of segments in both upper and lower lobes combine in the left lung, giving 8 segments.
- These segments of lung can be removed surgically with minimal haemorrhage in cases of lung cancer, for example.
Learn about the lobes and surface features of the lungs, and the surface anatomy of the lungs and pleurae in this lecture. Discover the key concepts and outcomes related to respiratory system.
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