The lungs are a vital organ. They are used for gas exchange between blood and inhaled air. It filters the oxygen from the air we breathe and transfers it into the bloodstream. At the same time, it releases excess carbon dioxide into the air that is breathed out.
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Article overview
How are the lungs structured?
The lungs are a paired organ. Its function is to extract oxygen from the air we breathe. It also removes carbon dioxide as an end product of the body's metabolism.
The lungs fill almost the entire thorax in order to perform their important tasks. It is connected to the upper respiratory tract and the heart. The ribs protect the organ.
The lungs begin at the side of the windpipe (trachea) at the pulmonary hilum(hilum pulmonis). At a fork, it branches into the main bronchi (bronchi principales). Together with the pulmonary veins and pulmonary arteries , the two bronchi enter the hilum.
The human organism is equipped with two lungs. These are located on both sides of the chest cavity. They are separated by the mediastinum. While the left lung is divided into two lobes, the right lung has three lobes. Furthermore, the lobes are divided into 19 lung segments (bronchopulmonary segments). They are each supplied by a segmental bronchus and a segmental artery. The right lung is made up of ten segments, while the left lung consists of nine segments.
The alveoli (pulmonary alveoli) play an important role in the lungs. The gas exchange of the lungs takes place in them. This is why the pulmonary alveoli are surrounded by a large number of very fine blood vessels . Several alveoli form a pulmonary alveolus in the lung.
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How do the lungs work?
The lungs fulfill the task of exchanging oxygen-poor blood for blood that is rich in oxygen. When we breathe, the deoxygenated blood is enriched with vital oxygen.
When the deoxygenated blood reaches the alveoli, it contains carbon dioxide, which must be exhaled. The oxygen and carbon dioxide are absorbed by haemoglobin, which is found in the erythrocytes (red blood cells). Through the pumping function of the heart, the red blood cells reach the capillaries surrounding the alveoli via the lungs. Gases are exchanged directly at the boundary between the alveoli and blood vessels.
The lungs are also important for the heart because it is ventilated by them. If the carbon dioxide in the blood could not be exhaled from the lungs, the body would be poisoned and die of asphyxiation.
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What are the most common lung diseases?
The human lungs can be affected by various diseases. These take both an acute and a chronic course. Acute lung diseases include
- acute bronchitis, which often occurs as part of a cold
- pneumonia , in which the lung tissue becomes inflamed
- Bronchopneumonia, which is the most common form of pneumonia
There are also a number of chronic lung diseases:
- bronchial asthma, in which the airways are chronically inflamed
- pulmonary emphysema, in which there is an abnormally increased lung air content, which occurs together with irreversible destruction of the lung tissue
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which is a combination of pulmonary emphysema and chronic obstructive bronchitis
- pulmonary fibrosis (pulmonary parenchymal disease), in which the connective tissue cells multiply abnormally.
Pulmonary embolism, in which a pulmonary artery is narrowed or blocked by a vascular clot, is particularly dangerous. In the worst case, it can cause a life-threatening shock.
Other lung diseases include
- Tuberculosis
- pneumoconiosis (pneumoconiosis)
- sarcoidosis
- Pulmonary edema (water in the lungs)
- bronchiolitis
- Lung cancer
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Risk factors for lung diseases
There are several risk factors that promote the development of lung diseases. For example, common lung diseases such as COPD, asthma and lung cancer are caused by harmful particles that enter the organ via the air we breathe. Cigarette smoke is one of the most dangerous disease triggers. Together with nicotine, it contains more than 4000 different substances. As a result, constant smoking can cause permanent damage to the lungs and bronchial tubes.
However, classic pathogens such as viruses and bacteria also pose a threat to the lungs. A healthy lung is perfectly capable of fighting off these germs. However, if the immune system is weakened, there is a risk of serious illnesses such as pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria.
Another risk factor is particulate matter from road traffic. Very fine particles are inhaled, which can penetrate into the alveoli, where they cause inflammation and coughing.
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Symptoms of lung diseases
Lung diseases are usually accompanied by typical symptoms. These include
- Cough with or without sputum
- Pain in the chest
- Lung pain
- Breathing difficulties such as shortness of breath or shortness of breath
Inflammatory lung diseases often result in other symptoms such as
- Fever
- loss of appetite
- night sweats
How are lung diseases diagnosed?
Doctors have several ways of diagnosing lung diseases. For example, a lung function test is usually sufficient to diagnose COPD or asthma. By examining lung function, diseases can be detected before the onset of serious symptoms, which is extremely important. The earlier a lung disease is diagnosed, the better the chances of treatment.
Spirometry is used to assess lung function. This involves measuring and recording lung and respiratory volumes. The same applies to airflow velocities. Spirometry is the most frequently used diagnostic method in pulmonary medicine. However, there are other procedures, such as
- bronchoscopy
- computed tomography(CT)
- magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)
- pleural puncture
