The Lungs

The lungs are the primary organs of our respiratory system and one of the most essential for
supporting life. A pair of lungs are located in the chest cavity, protected by the rib cage. The right lung is
divided into three lobes while the left is slightly smaller with only two lobes. Their main function is to
oxygenate blood and remove carbon dioxide through breathing. Here are some key facts about the lungs:

Size and Weight: Fully inflated adult lungs typically weigh about 1.5 pounds each. Their surface area is
vast, around 100 square feet when all the tiny air sacs and passages are unfurled. This large area enables
maximum gas exchange.

Breathing: With each breath, air is drawn into the lungs through the trachea and bronchi. It then passes
through millions of tiny bronchioles and air sacs called alveoli. The walls of the alveoli are only one cell
thick, allowing for efficient diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide out.

Oxygenation: The pulmonary capillaries surrounding the alveoli are where oxygen from the air mixes
with red blood cells. The hemoglobin in blood cells becomes loaded with oxygen which is then pumped
by the heart to tissues and organs all over the body.

Protection: To protect the delicate lungs, we have a pleura lining and mechanisms like coughing and
sneezing to expel foreign particles. The lungs are also very flexible and elastic, expanding and contracting
over 50 times per minute during breathing.

Immunity: The lungs have their own immune defenses including mucus, cilia, macrophages and
antibodies to help clear toxins and pathogens from the gases we inhale every day.

Properly functioning lungs are crucial for sustaining life through gas exchange. They demonstrate
intricate design optimized for maximum oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal with each breath we
take.