What are the differences between the left and right lungs? Hop right on down to learn about our left and right lungs. Impress your family, friends, teachers, or colleagues with these fun facts. Learning about them will take your breath away. 😉
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True or False? The left lung is smaller than the right lung.
True! Our left lung is indeed smaller than the right lung. Because our heart is mostly on the left side of our midline, our left lung accommodates for our heart with a cardiac notch, which is basically a lateral deflection of the lung to give more space for the heart.
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True or False? Despite different sizes, the left lung and right lung have similar shapes.
False. The left and right lungs actually are shaped slightly differently. The right lung is broader in shape compared to the left lung because the heart is located mostly on our left side; thus, our left lung cannot be as broad in shape. Although the left lung is not broad, the left lung is longer than the right one. This is because our liver sits right underneath the right side of our diaphragm, so our right lung cannot be so long to interfere with the liver. On the other hand, the left lung does not have the massive liver underneath. The diaphragm thus extends slightly lower and deeper, allowing a longer left lung to exist.
Summary Comparison of Size and Shape Between Left and Right Lung
Right Lung is Larger > Left Lung
Right Lung is Broader > Left Lung
Right Lung is Heavier > Left Lung
Right Lung is Shorter < Left Lung
Left Lung is Longer > Right Lung
3. True or False? The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung has two lobes.
- Right Lung = 3 Lobes (Upper, Middle, and Lower Lobe
- Left Lung = 2 Lobes (Upper and Lower Lobe)
4. True or False? The left lung has an oblique fissure, while the right lung has both an oblique fissure AND horizontal fissure.
True. That is correct. As we can see in the diagram below, the right lung has an additional fissure that runs almost horizontally, separating the upper and middle lobe of the right lung. This fissure is thus known as the horizontal fissure
- Right Lung= 2 Fissures = Oblique and Horizontal Fissure
- Left Lung = 1 Fissures = Oblique Fissure
- Bronchopulmonary segments are independent respiratory units within the lung that are supplied with their own tertiary segmental bronchus and arterial branch.
5. True or False? The left lung and right lung have equal number of bronchopulmonary segements.
False. The right lung has more bronchopulmonary segments than the left lung. Specifically, the right lung has 10, and the left lung has 8 segments. To remember this more easily, we can always go back and remember that the right lung is broader, heavier, and larger than the left lung. The right lung thus has more lobes, fissures, and bronchopulmonary segments than the left lung!
- Right Lung = 10 Bronchopulmonary segements
- Left Lung = 8 Bronchopulmonary segments
Despite their differences, the right and left lung operate well together. After all, they belung together. Get it? Belung? 😉
Check out our other Related respiratory system lessons!
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Very interesting! During my accident ( see post The horse came back alone) they had to go through my side to repair shattered back. In the process, the collapsed my left lung. I had a lot of difficulties with the lung over the 21 days in ICU. Years later, if I get sick, its always the left lung thats affected.
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Hi Laura, Thank you for stopping by! We’re glad you’re back on your feet from the horse back riding accident! That must have been frightening. Our lungs are very unique – in fact, the left and right lung are isolated from one another, so when one lung collapses, this does not affect the other lung. Perhaps, this biological phenonmenon may explain why your left lung is the only one affected when sick. Wishing you the best health! Beautiful site you’ve got, by the way. 🙂
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Thank you so much! And again, great post! Enjoyed very much!
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Thanks so much again, Laura! Have a spectacular spring!
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Nice lung comics and art. I learned something new today. You earned my thumbs up for your Facebook page. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your support, Samuel! 🙂 We’re glad you liked our art. We tried to make this post both educational and fun, with some goofy-looking lungs.
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I’m so glad there wasn’t an exam at the end.
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Thanks for visiting, Philip! Your comment got me laughing out loud. 😀 We’re glad there wasn’t an exam at the end either!
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Loved the post
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Thank you so much, Mistimaan! Hope you’re enjoying the nice breezy spring!
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Interesting facts. I recently became more aware of my lungs from a bout with bronchitis. Nasty stuff. I’m glad it is over. I can breathe more easily.
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We’re so glad you’re recovered now, Jim!! Bronchitis is no fun, especially with all that airway inflammation, coughing up mucus, etc. Just reminds us how important our pair of healthy lungs is! Thank you also for liking our educational post! Wishing you good health and happiness. 🙂
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I really liked this article. It really helped me to understand just how different each of the lungs are. And yes, though different, they certainly “be-lung” together! XD
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Thanks Grahm! Glad you enjoyed the article. Maybe, it even took your breath away. 😉
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Definitely!
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Very interested piece. Nice work!
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Thank you, Mairi! We appreciate it.
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Lovely educational blog…🖖✌👍
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Thank you, Sundaram! Makes us happy to hear you enjoying our educational lesson posts! You’re a great writer, and we have been enjoying your fiction stories! 🙂
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Thanks so much for saying that…🙏✌:-)
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Hi there, thank you for visiting! We are more than happy to help. What would you like us to specifically elaborate more on? Thank you again for your interest!
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woh I love your posts, saved to bookmarks! .
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Fantastic posts and content! Really helpful and wonderful things you do. I just donated to your cause, a warm cup of coffee toast to you!
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Thank you so much! Means alot to us! Thank you for your support Mike!
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Your article leaves me breathless. Amazing work you do!
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I see what you did there. 😉 Thank you Sam!
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Excellent article. Reminds me of the lung cancer I had. The tumor was in my left lower lobe and I got really lucky, it didn’t metasize yet so surgery was an option.
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Thank you for sharing and your nice comment. We’re glad you are doing well now. We wish you many blessings of good health and happiness!
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Amazing I learned something new today! Thanks 😄
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Brilliant and your article leaves me breathless, amazing work on the respiratory system. Aspiring to be a pulmonologist doctor one day.
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Wow, thank you so much, Joey! We’re excited to make learning easy, fun, and understandable for students and future doctors like you one day. Good luck!
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Shared your lovely article with my class!
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