What Is the Function of the Lungs?
The lungs are a pair of organs located in the chest cavity that perform respiration. These are about 12 inches long. The lungs are a protective membrane. The area between the two lungs is called the mediastinum, which contains the heart, trachea, esophagus and blood vessels. The lung is protected by the ribcage.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Purpose of the Lungs
The purpose of the lung is for oxygen to enter the body, while removing carbon dioxide. Oxygen provides the body with energy, while carbon dioxide is a bodily waste produced by cellular metabolism that collects in the tissues of the body.
Statistics
What Happens to the Intercostal Muscles in Exercise?
Learn More
According to the American Lung Association, our lungs breathe in 8,000 to 9,000 liters of air of air daily in order to meet the demand of 8,0000 to 10,000 liters of blood that is pumped in through the heart.
Breathing
The lungs oxygenate the body because air is breathed in via the nose or mouth. When a person breathes in, the lungs expand and need assistance from other muscles in order to function properly. When a person breathes out, or exhales, the lungs do not need assistance.
Respiration
What Happens to Your Lungs When You Exercise?
Learn More
The function of the lungs is to maintain the body's respiration, which means that the lungs bring oxygen to the bloodstream via alveoli, or tiny sacs in the lungs. When oxygen enters the blood, hemoglobin picks it up and transport it throughout the body. The lungs also remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream, disposing of the waste by product of the body. When the lungs do not work properly, it means that oxygen is not getting to the body and that they need to work harder to function. Problems with the lungs, such as pneumonia, lung disease, asthma or other problems put more stress on bodily functions.
- The function of the lungs is to maintain the body's respiration, which means that the lungs bring oxygen to the bloodstream via alveoli, or tiny sacs in the lungs.
- The lungs also remove carbon dioxide from the bloodstream, disposing of the waste by product of the body.
Protection
The nose acts as a filtering system, decreasing the number of irritants that enter the lung. The nose also adds heat and moisture to the air. Breathing in through the mouth does not filter oxygen, so more irritants may be delivered to the lungs. The lungs also protect themselves by coughing, as it can expel irritants easily. When the lungs are irritated, the muscle surrounded the lung begins to tighten to keep an irritant out. This tightening causes a spasm, which can make it more difficult to breathe. These can be signals to the body that there is an infection or irritant that should be avoided or treated.
- The nose acts as a filtering system, decreasing the number of irritants that enter the lung.
- The lungs also protect themselves by coughing, as it can expel irritants easily.
Related Articles
References
- National Cancer Institute SEER Training Modules. Anatomy of the lung.
- Kids Health from Nemours. Your lungs & respiratory system.
- Teach Me Anatomy. The lungs. October 22, 2019.
- Chaudhry R, Bordoni B. Anatomy, thorax, lungs. StatPearls. Updated January 13, 2019.
- Poe E, Granite G. Anatomical lung variations: A study conducted on cadaveric specimens. International Journal of Anatomical Variations. May 24, 2019.
- George BM, Nayak SB, Marpalli S. Morphological variations of the lungs: a study conducted on Indian cadavers. Anat Cell Biol. 2014;47(4):253-258. doi:10.5115/acb.2014.47.4.253
- Kc S, Shrestha P, Shah AK, Jha AK. Variations in human pulmonary fissures and lobes: a study conducted in Nepalese cadavers. Anat Cell Biol. 2018;51(2):85-92. doi:10.5115/acb.2018.51.2.85
- The Lung Association. How the lungs work. December 10, 2016.
- Medline Plus. Lung disease. Updated July 28, 2018.
- World Health Organization. The global impact of respiratory disease.
- NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. April 28, 2020.
- American Lung Association. Learn about sarcoidosis. February 27, 2020.
- Hoeper MM, Ghofrani HA, Grünig E, Klose H, Olschewski H, Rosenkranz S. Pulmonary hypertension. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017;114(5):73-84. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2017.0073
- Bĕlohlávek J, Dytrych V, Linhart A. Pulmonary embolism, part I: Epidemiology, risk factors and risk stratification, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism. Exp Clin Cardiol. 2013;18(2):129-38.
- American Lung Association. Lung capacity and aging. March 11, 2020.
- MedlinePlus. Lung function tests.
Writer Bio
Andrea Helaine has a Bachelor of Philosophy in theology and is currently finishing her thesis course for a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. Helaine has been writing professionally for over 10 years and has been published in several anthologies and is currently breaking into the screenwriting market.