Anatomy and Physiology of Lungs

Anatomy and Physiology of Lungs

The lungs are the main organ of the respiratory system as they perform the important function of exchanging gases between the body and atmosphere as well as carrying oxygen to the blood coming from the heart, from which oxygenated blood is carried to each and every cell and organ of the human body.

Anatomy and Function of lungs:

Lungs are two in number and located in the chest cavity, which are covered by ribs on front and sides while they are protected from back by the thoracic vertebrae. They are soft and spongy in nature and are divided into areas called lobes, the right lung has three lobes that is upper, middle and lower lobe while the left lung is divided into two lobes that is upper and lower lobe the middle lobe is missing in left lung because heart occupies that space in chest cavity. The lungs are inflated with air and contain the most important parts of the respiratory tract, the bronchial tree and the alveoli (alveoli are sac like membranous structures present in the form of cluster of grapes, they are involved in the addition of oxygen in the blood and removal of carbon dioxide from the blood).

In case of any damage to lungs the oxygenation function is badly effected and this results in hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in blood) leading to difficulty in breathing and angina (pain in and around the heart). Pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and COPD are the most common disease that harm the lungs and alveoli.

Major diseases involving lungs:

Following are the main diseases involving the lungs. The main symptoms produced in all these conditions include dry/productive cough, pain in chest and fever. There may also be suffocation (inability to breathe) and also dyspnoea (difficulty in respiration)

Bronchitis:

Bronchitis is an inflammation of bronchi (the air tubes in the lungs) this disease is mainly caused by infection in the lungs, smoking, exposure to cold etc. Bronchitis is characterized by productive cough with chest pain and excessive phlegm in the chest cavity leading to difficulty in breathing.

Asthma:

Asthma is an allergic condition of lungs caused by hypersensitivity reaction in an individual to some allergen. Major allergens causing asthma includes; pollen, perfume, nuts, dust etc. Asthma is characterised by extreme difficulty in breathing and an excessively productive cough.

Pneumonia:

Pneumonia is described as lungs inflammation induced by bacterial infection, with pneumococci being the most common cause. Pneumonia is associated with symptoms of productive cough, high grade fever and chest pain. It can be fatal in young and weak children, also in elderly individuals with some chronic debilitating disease.

COPD:

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is commonly seen in chain smokers. This disease is a typical result of long periods of continuous smoking. If a person keeps on smoking for a few years than the mucus producing cells are triggered leading to production of excessive phlegm in the chest cavity. This phlegm obstructs the airways causing difficulty in breathing and suffocation. Once triggered there is no cure to this condition

Conclusion:

The respiratory health is very essential for life and lungs have a very crucial role in respiration process. If there is any problem in this organ then it can lead towards different diseases i.e. Asthma, Bronchitis, Pneumonia and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). So, extreme care and precautions must always be maintained to keep the lungs in a healthy state.