BIOL 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Pulmonary Pleurae, Thoracic Cavity, Alveolar Duct
Document Summary
Lungs are suspended in the thoracic cavity. Thoracic cavity is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm. Space between the lungs and the chest wall: interpleural space: pleura fluid (5ml, tiny space, critical for breathing. Visceral pleura: thin membrane touching the lungs (sits on the surface of the lungs) Partial pleura: encases rib cage and diaphragm, fused to visceral pleura. Left lung contains 2 lobes because the heart leans left and the cardiac notch (space where the heart is located) is in the space where the third lobe would be. Basic lung anatomy: a closer look at airways. Trachea: made up of c-shaped cartilage rings on the front, the back is made of muscle esophagus. Bronchi: trachea branches off into l/r primary bronchi, then branches off into secondary, tertiary, etc, bronchi branches off 23 times and gets smaller as you continue, last bronchi = terminal bronchioles. Alveoli: alveolar duct alveolar sac (contains alveoli.
