Overview of the lungs

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The lungs are paired organs located in the thoracic cavity. They are considered to be central organs of the respiratory system since they are in charge of gaseous exchange between the inspired air and blood. Due to the differences in space in the two sides of the thoracic cavity, the lungs are asymmetrical (the left lung is smaller in size).
The lungs have three borders (anterior, posterior, and inferior) that marginate three surfaces. These surfaces include the costal, medial, and diaphragmatic surfaces. Because costal and medial surfaces of both lungs have many important features, and these features are common questions on anatomical exams, in this study unit we are going to cover these surfaces in detail. You can start by watching our videos that will provide you with a brief overview of medial and lateral views and their important features.

Continue your learning by checking out the video below on the medial view of the lungs. 

Take a quiz

Now that you have watched the videos, you can test your knowledge about the surfaces of the lungs by taking the quiz below.

Do you want more questions or more topics in your quiz about the lungs and the respiratory system? No worries, you can design your quiz and choose your topics with the custom quiz below.

Browse atlas

Now you can see each structure in more detail with our image galleries. First, we are going to show you the structures of the right lung seen from both a lateral and medial perspective. Afterward, in our second gallery, you can see the features of the left lung from a lateral and medial view.

Summary