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The Lungs
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The Human Lung
Lung basics
The human lung is one of
the largest organs in the human body, and it's impossible to
live for more than a few minutes if your lungs aren't working.
The biggest job of a lung is to allow us to breathe--the
process of drawing in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide.
During a normal day, your lungs breathe in and out nearly
25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty
breathing.
The lungs occupy a large
percentage of the chest cavity, and each lung is protected by
the rib cage. The lungs vary slightly in size: the left lung is
a little bigger than the right lung because it shares more
space with the heart. The diaphragm, which is located just
below the lungs, expands and contracts to push carbon dioxide
out of each lung and draw fresh oxygen in.
The lungs also make it
possible for us to communicate through speech.
Lung functions
Here's how the lungs
work.
Air comes into the lungs
through the windpipe into two tubes called bronchi. The bronchi
then divide into bronchioles, which are smaller tubes. The
bronchioles divide even further into tiny air sacs called
alveoli.
On the inside, a normal
lung is pinkish in color, and it resembles a sponge with many
tiny holes and bubbles. Minute blood vessels surround these
holes, and the blood vessels exchange carbon dioxide for
oxygen. This is known as "gas exchange." Blood that has
circulated throughout the body is pumped by the heart each
lung. After the gas exchange, the blood goes from the lung back
to the heart where it is pumped to the rest of the body. This
process is called pulmonary circulation. Without oxygen from
our lungs, our cells could not function.
There are many lung diseases and lung conditions. The most
common problems that afflict the lungs are covered with
separate articles or sections on this website.
The goal of this website is
to share basic information about the lungs, lung diseases and
lung wellness. It is
intended for use by the general public. Always rely on a doctor
to make medical diagnoses and treatment recommendations
regarding your lungs.
 Learn About Your
Lungs
In-depth information about
the diseases, conditions and illnesses that affect lung
health.
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