Gross Anatomy of the Lungs

The lungs are paired spongy organs in the thoracic cavity, each divided into lobes—three on the right, two on the left—to accommodate the heart’s position. The right lung is shorter and broader, the left narrower with a cardiac notch. Surfaces include the apex above the clavicle, base on the diaphragm, costal surface against ribs, and mediastinal surface with hilum where bronchi, vessels, and nerves enter. Fissures separate lobes, and bronchopulmonary segments provide surgical landmarks. Pleura covers the lungs and lines the chest wall, with fluid reducing friction during breathing.