Respiratory System Lungs
Lets name the parts for a change. I’ll mention the names then define them. Epiglottis, trachea, bronchioles, right, left, apex, and base. Now lets define them. Protecting the lungs from food stuff and liquids is the epiglottis is a cartilage that covers the larynx opening and acts as a door, closing off the larynx during swallowing and preventing food from entering the trachea. Next up, the trachea is simply a medical term for the windpipe which starts to branch off from the main pipe into the next step. The bronchi which are simply smaller forms of the main windpipe and then bronchioles are the smallest of the air distribution tubes in the respiratory system. The lungs on both the left and the right are not the same. The heart requires space and as such the right lung has three (3) lobes and the left lung has two (2) lobes. The very top of the lobes lies the apex of the lungs and the very bottom of the lobes is called the base of the lungs which rests on top of the diaphragm.
Covering the outer surface of the lungs is a membrane which was given a specialized name called the visceral pleura which covers the out surface of the lungs and lines the inner surface of the rib cage. This allows the lungs to freely inflate and deflate as respiration occurs. The pleural is then broken down into two diferent types they are the visceral and pariental membranes. More of the membranes will be covered in the next article.
