Term | Definition |
Compartments of the Thoracic Cavity (1) | Two Lateral compartments--the Pulmonary Cavity; Right and left pulmonary cavities contain lung and pleural |
Compartments of the Thoracic Cavity (2) | One central compartment--the mediastinum contains all other thoracic structures: heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, thymus, and lymph nodes |
Pleurae | double-layered membrane covering each lung and lining each (right and left) of the pulmonary cavity |
Visceral pleura | membrane adherent to each lung |
Parietal pleura | Four parts: Costal part, mediastinal part, diaphragmatic part, and cervical pleura |
Pleural cavity | virtual space btw two layers of pleura; contains thin film of serous (clear) film; surface tension of fluid provides cohesion that keeps the lung surface in contact with thoracic wall |
Lungs | Vital organs of respiration bring blood into close relation with air for gas exchange; tissue is light, soft and spongy; recoil to approx. ⅓ their size when release from pleura |
Components of the Lung: Apex | blunt superior end ascending above clavicle and 1st rib (top, pointiest part of lung) |
Components of the Lung: Base | concave inferior surface opposite the apex, resting on diaphragm |
Components of the Lung: Left Lung | two lobes and Right lung: thRee lobes; lobes are separated by fissures |
Components of the Lung: Three Surfaces | costal mediastinal, diaphragmatic |
Components of the Lung: Three Borders | anterior, inferior and posterior |
Components of the Lung: Root | bronchi, pulmonary arteries and veins, pulmonary nerves (sympathetic, parasympathetic and visceral afferent), and lymphatic vessels pass |
Components of the Lung: Root-Hilum | wedge-shaped area through which root passes |
Trachea | from inferior larynx to sternal angle |
Main Bronchi | division of trachea into right and left airways that each enter a lung at its hilum;
Cartilaginous “rings” keep airway open at all times |
Right Bronchi | wider, shorter and runs more vertically than left |
Left Bronchi | passes inferolaterally, inferior to arch of aorta and anterior to esophagus |
Conducting bronchiole | 20-15 generations of branching; lack cartilage; smooth muscle largest component of walls; terminal bronchioles: smallest of conducting bronchioles |
Respiratory bronchioles | several generations from each terminal bronchiole; each end in cluster of alveolar sacs |
Pulmonary alveolus | basic structural unit of gas exchange in lungs |