- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
Lungs Design And Purpose (cont.)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- Lung anatomy facts
- What are the lungs?
- What does breathing accomplish?
- What is the structure of the respiratory system?
- How is air moved into and out of the lungs during respiration?
- How does gas exchange occur?
- What are other important events during the breathing cycle?
What are other important events during the breathing cycle?
Outside air needs to be heated and moistened to match the body's temperature and humidity. As air passes down the tracheobronchial tree, it is warmed and water is added. Contaminants must also be removed. Nose hairs and tiny microscopic hairs called cilia, along with sticky mucus produced by the lining membrane help cleanse the air of impurities. Cilia beat in a synchronized fashion brushing any collected dirt and mucus up toward the mouth. The accumulated material is then coughed out or swallowed. By the time the air reaches the alveoli, it is virtually sterile. Amazingly, all of the above is occurring naturally while you are reading this information!
REFERENCE: MedscapeReference.com. Lung Anatomy.
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
http://www.medicinenet.com/lungs_design_and_purpose/article.htm
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.






