Advertisement.

EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site.
As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages.
Click here to learn more.
(Already a member? Click here.)

You might also like:

Label Lungs Diagram Printout

Urinary System

Heart Anatomy Glossary Printout

Skin Anatomy

The Spinal Cord

Today's featured page: GREAT WHITE SHARK

Our subscribers' grade-level estimate for this page: 5th - 6th

Body-Related Books to Print

EnchantedLearning.com Human Anatomy

Anatomy Index

Brain

Digestive System

Ears

Eyes

Heart

Lungs

Skeleton

Skin

Teeth

Urinary System

Classroom Activities

Lung Anatomy

The lungs are respiratory organs -- we use them to breathe. We breathe in order to get oxygen (O₂) and to get rid of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

We breathe in through the nose or mouth. The air then goes through the larynx and the trachea (also called the windpipe) and into the lungs. We breathe by using the diaphragm, a muscular membrane under the lungs. When the diaphragm the diaphragm contracts and pulls downwards, the lungs expand and air enters the lungs (inhalation). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled from the lungs.

When the air is in the lungs, it comes enters capillary-lined alveoli (singular alveolus). In the hollow alveoli, gas exchange occurs [oxygen (O₂) is absorbed by blood in the capillaries and carbon dioxide (CO₂) is gotten rid of].

People have two lungs -- they are located on either side of the heart within the rib cage. The two lungs are not identical; the right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two lobes.

Lung Glossary

alveoli (singular alveolus) - hollow, capillary-lined structures within the lungs that are the site of gas exchange with the blood [the absorption of oxygen (O2) and the loss of carbon dioxide (CO2)]. Each human lung contains about 300 million alveoli. bronchial tree - the system of airways within the lungs, which bring air from the trachea to the lung's tiny air sacs (alveoli). cardiac notch - the indentation in the left lung that provides room for the heart. diaphragm - a muscular membrane under the lungs. When it contracts and pulls downwards, the lungs expand and air enters the lungs (inhalation). When the diaphragm relaxes, air is exhaled from the lungs. larynx - a muscular structure at the top of the trachea, containing the vocal cords. left inferior lobe - the bottom lobe of the lung on the left side of the body. left superior lobe - the top lobe of the lung on the left side of the body. right inferior lobe - the bottom lobe of the lung on the right side of the body. right middle lobe - the middle lobe of the lung on the right side of the body. right superior lobe - the top lobe of the lung on the right side of the body. trachea (windpipe) - the tube through which air travels from the larynx to the lungs.

Worksheet to Print

Lungs Label the lungs' lobes, the cardiac notch, the trachea, larynx, and diaphragm. Answers

Enchanted Learning^®
Over 35,000 Web Pages
Sample Pages for Prospective Subscribers, or click below

Click to read our Privacy Policy

E-mail