Pulmones

Paired cone-shaped organs occupying the pleural cavities, the lungs are the primary sites of gas exchange, admitting oxygen into the blood and expelling carbon dioxide across an alveolar surface of roughly 70 square meters. The right lung has three lobes, superior, middle, and inferior, and the left has two, superior and inferior, with a cardiac notch that accommodates the heart; each lobe divides further into bronchopulmonary segments. On the medial surface, the hilum receives the bronchi, pulmonary vessels, and nerves. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and pneumonia is inflammation of the alveoli. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease encompasses emphysema and chronic bronchitis, while pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening obstruction of the pulmonary circulation.

Órganos pares en forma de cono que ocupan las cavidades pleurales. El pulmón derecho tiene tres lóbulos (superior, medio e inferior) y el pulmón izquierdo tiene dos lóbulos (superior e inferior) con una escotadura cardíaca. Cada lóbulo se subdivide en segmentos broncopulmonares. El hilio, en la superficie medial, recibe los bronquios, los vasos pulmonares y los nervios.

On this page

Tipo	Organ
Sistema corporal	Respiratorio
Región corporal	Tórax
Nombre latino	Pulmones
FMA ID	68877

Función

Los principales órganos del intercambio gaseoso, que permiten la entrada de oxígeno a la sangre y la expulsión de dióxido de carbono. La superficie total de los alvéolos es de aproximadamente 70 metros cuadrados, lo que facilita un intercambio gaseoso eficiente.

Significado clínico

El cáncer de pulmón es la principal causa de muerte por cáncer. La neumonía es una inflamación de los alvéolos. La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) incluye el enfisema y la bronquitis crónica. El embolismo pulmonar es una afección potencialmente mortal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the function of the lungs?

The lungs are the primary organs of respiration. Their main function is gas exchange: oxygen from inhaled air diffuses into the bloodstream across the alveolar walls, while carbon dioxide from the blood diffuses into the alveoli and is exhaled. The lungs also play roles in pH regulation, filtering blood clots, and synthesizing certain hormones and surfactant.

How are the left and right lungs different?

The right lung has three lobes (upper, middle, lower) and is larger than the left lung, which has two lobes (upper, lower). The left lung is smaller because it accommodates the cardiac notch, the space occupied by the heart. The right lung is also shorter and wider due to the position of the liver beneath the right hemidiaphragm.

What is the total lung capacity?

Total lung capacity (TLC) in a healthy adult male is approximately 6 liters, with approximately 4.8 liters in females. Of this, tidal volume (normal resting breath) is about 500 mL. Vital capacity (maximum air moved in one breath) averages 4.8 liters in men and 3.1 liters in women. Residual volume (~1.2 L) remains in the lungs after maximum exhalation.

References

Foundational Model of Anatomy — FMA:68877 Reference anatomy ontology (University of Washington)
Wikipedia — Pulmones Encyclopedia article (verified cross-reference)

Aviso médico

Este contenido es solo para fines educativos e informativos. No pretende ser un sustituto del consejo médico profesional, diagnóstico o tratamiento. Siempre busque el consejo de su médico u otro proveedor de salud calificado ante cualquier pregunta que pueda tener sobre una condición médica. Nunca ignore el consejo médico profesional ni demore en buscarlo debido a algo que haya leído en este sitio web.

Educational Disclaimer

This content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical decisions.

Data sources: Terminologia Anatomica, Foundational Model of Anatomy, Wikidata.