The Lungs

Lung Structures

Lungs-Paired cone-shaped organ in the thoracic cavity.

Apex-The narrow superior surface of the lung.

Hilum-An area, depression, or pit where blood vessels and nerves enter or leave an organ.

Bronchial Tree-The trachea, bronchi, and their branching structures.

Bronchioles-Smaller branches of the bronchial airway.

Alveoli-An air sac in the lungs.

Thorax-Another name for the chest.

Mediastinum-The median partition between the pleurae of the lungs.

Esophagus-Hollow muscular tube that connects the pharynx and the stomach.

Trachea-Tubular passageway for air.

Larynx-Short passageway that connects the laryngopharynx with the trachea.

Parietal Pleura-Superficial layer that lines the wall of the thoracic cavity.

Visceral Pleura-Deep layer that covers the lungs themselves.

Pleural Cavity-Space between the visceral and parietal pleurae.

Sternum-Flat narrow bone located in the center of the anterior thoracic wall.

Manubrium-Superior part of the sternum.

Body-Middle and largest part of the sternum.

Xiphoid Process-Inferior and smaller part of the sternum.

Thoracic Vertebrae-Larger and stronger than the cervical vertebrae, and it articulates with the ribs.

True Ribs-Ribs that have costal cartilage and attach directly to the sternum.

False Ribs-Ribs that attach indirectly or not directly to the sternum.

Floating Ribs-Ribs that do not attach to the sternum at all.

Diaphragm-Dome -shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Pathology

Pneumonia

An acute infection or inflammation of the alveoli of the lung.

Tuberculosis

Infectious disease causes by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Lung Cancer

Malignant tumor of the lung caused by cigarette smoke or second hand smoke.

Surgical Procedures

Bronchoscopy

Surgical procedure to evaluate hemoptysis, cancer, infections, smoke damage to the lungs, retrieving foreign bodies, laser treatment of tumors, and post-op lung transplant evaluation.

Mediastinoscopy

Surgical procedure for evaluating nodal involvement or mediastinal masses in patients with lung cancer.

Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery

Treatment of several thoracic diseases and disorders of the esophagus, lungs, mediastinum, pericardium, and pleura.

Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Surgical removal of a pulmonary embolism

Decortication of the Lung

Surgical procedure to release constriction of the lungs by fibrin layers to restore normal lung function and control infection.

Pneumonectomy

Removal of lung tissue.

Resource list

Frey, K. B. (2018). Surgical Technology For The Surgical Technologist (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2006). Principles Of Anatomy And Physiology (11th ed.). John Wiley & Sons INC.

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