by kuyakev on August 15th, 2007

kuyakev

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Why does the right lung have three lobes and the left only two?

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  • by Jtigger on October 15th, 2007

    Jtigger

    The right lung is larger and has more lobes than the left lung (3 vs 2) because the heart is normally located on the left side, and takes up space where the lung would have been.
    The right lung, which is heavier than the left, is also shorter (the right dome of the diaphragm being higher) and wider (the heart bulging more to the left).
    Each lung has an apex, three surfaces (costal, medial, and diaphragmatic), and three borders (anterior, inferior, and posterior). The right lung is divided into upper, middle, and lower lobes by oblique and horizontal fissures, whereas the left lung has usually only upper and lower lobes, separated by an oblique fissure.

    http://www.instantanatomy.net/thorax/areas/respiratorysystem/fissures.html

    http://www.health24.com/medical/Condition_centres/777-792-805-1642,21491.asp

    http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/respiratorysystem/lungs/menu/menu.html

    http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11259/lunglobes.htm

    http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/lungs/label/

    http://www.answers.com/topic/human-lung

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  • by ChrisDG on August 15th, 2007

    ChrisDG

    Excellent question. The right lung is larger than the left, therefore it has more lobes than the left. The left is smaller because it has to make room for the heart in the left of the thoracic cavity.

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