Right lung

The right lung islocated on the right side of the thoracic cavity. It is larger than the left lung and is divided into three lobes the upper (superior), middle, and lower (inferior) lobes separated by two fissures: the oblique fissure and the horizontal fissure.

Anatomical description:

The right lung is divided into three lobes, superior, middle, and inferior, by two interlobular fissures. One of these separates the inferior from the middle and superior lobes, and corresponds closely with the fissure in the left lung. Its direction is, however, more vertical, and it cuts the lower border about 7.5 cm. behind its anterior extremity. The other fissure separates the superior from the middle lobe. It begins in the previous fissure near the posterior border of the lung, and, running horizontally forward, cuts the anterior border on a level with the sternal end of the fourth costal cartilage; on the mediastinal surface it may be traced backward to the hilus. The middle lobe, the smallest lobe of the right lung, is wedgeshaped, and includes the lower part of the anterior border and the anterior part of the base of the lung.

Key anatomical features:

• Volume and size: The right lung is shorter and wider than the left lung due to the higher position of the right hemidiaphragm (elevated by the liver beneath it) and the absence of the cardiac notch.

• Lobes: Three lobes (superior, middle, inferior), compared to two lobes on the left.

• Bronchial anatomy: The right main bronchus is wider, shorter, and more vertically oriented than the left, which is why aspirated foreign bodies more commonly enter the right lung.

• Hilum: Contains the right pulmonary artery, two pulmonary veins (superior and inferior), the right main bronchus, bronchial vessels, lymph nodes, and nerves.

• Surfaces: Costal (adjacent to ribs), mediastinal (facing the mediastinum, bearing the cardiac impression), and diaphragmatic (resting on the diaphragm).

• Segments: The right lung has 10 bronchopulmonary segments (3 in the upper lobe, 2 in the middle lobe, and 5 in the lower lobe), each supplied by a segmental bronchus.

• he right lung accounts for approximately 55% of total lung volume and function, making rightsided pathology (e.g., pneumonia, effusion, pneumothorax) potentially more impactful on gas exchange than equivalent leftsided disease.