Man is a mammal and was equipped by nature with an amazingly perfectly working lungs, which are needed for breathing. Therefore, the lungs are one of the organs which are vital and can also become diseased under certain conditions.
What is the lung?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the lungs and bronchi. Click to enlarge. In medical terminology and anatomy, the lungs are also known as pulmo- and are used for vital gas exchange. Under these circumstances, the first breath, which is taken through the lungs, begins immediately after birth. In order to maintain the rather complicated function of the lungs, this large organ, which fills almost the entire chest, is connected to both the upper respiratory tract and the central organ, the heart. In addition, the lungs are protected by the ribs. The lung is an extremely well supplied with blood body organ.
Anatomy and structure
From the appearance, the lung tissue looks like a medium red sponge, which consists of two paired lung lobes. The lung lobes in turn subdivide the lungs into what are called smaller lung segments. In each wing of the lung, the right and left lung, there are 10 -fold arranged lung segments, whereby by a special anatomical condition in the left wing only 9 lung parts are arranged. The stronger appearing part of the lung, called the pulmonary trunk, is represented by the trachea. The pulmonary trunk divides into the so-called main bronchi. The main bronchi fill the right and left lungs, respectively. Further down, the bronchi branch out more and more. Directly in the tissue of the lungs, the bronchi become the alveoli. The alveoli are also known as the alveoli. The actual gas exchange in the lungs takes place in these. For this reason, the alveoli of the lungs are surrounded by the finest blood vessels. Several alveoli form a pulmonary alveolus in the lungs.
Functions and tasks
The main functions of the lungs are to “exchange” oxygen-poor blood from the body for oxygen-rich blood. This means that oxygen-depleted blood is enriched with this vital gas by the uptake of oxygen through respiration. When the deoxygenated blood arrives at the alveoli, it is rich in carbon dioxide. It is essential that this be exhaled through the lungs. Both the oxygen and the carbon dioxide are absorbed by the hemoglobin bound in the red blood cells. The erythrocytes are delivered to the lungs in the blood stream by the pumping action of the heart and enter the capillaries. These surround the alveoli and gas exchange takes place immediately at the boundary between the alveoli and the blood vessel. The lungs not only ventilate the entire body, but also the heart. If carbon dioxide from the blood were not exhaled via the lungs, this would lead to suffocation and poisoning of the organism. In the function of the lungs, a distinction is made between a pulmonary and a systemic circulation. In the lungs there is also mucus, which performs a certain purification task of the inhaled.
Diseases
In connection with the diseases of the lungs, the focus is not only on acute but also on chronic diseases. Acute diseases, which include, for example, pulmonary embolism or pneumothorax of the lung, often arise as a result of other underlying diseases. If the lungs themselves become diseased, this may be expressed by tumors or pneumonia manifesting in the lungs. If the lungs are affected by inhaled particles, the result is a so-called pneumoconiosis. If disease-causing microorganisms such as bacteria or viruses are involved, tuberculosis may occur. Not only bacterial and viral germs, but also individual fungi are responsible for a disease of the lungs. Hereditary diseases of the lungs such as cystic fibrosis with increased formation of mucus in the lungs also require treatment. Allergies and asthma are among the diseases of the lungs that have recently become more common. These are triggered both by natural substances in the air we breathe and by aggressive irritants. In addition, the so-called pulmonary emphysema also represents a typical disease of the lungs.
Typical and common diseases
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
- Cough
- Lung cancer
- Pulmonary edema
- Pulmonary fibrosis
