What Is Lung Function?

How Your Lungs Work

Lung function is critical to life. Breathing--and life itself--is impossible if your lungs don't function. During a normal day, your lungs breathe in and out nearly 25,000 times. The human lung is one of the largest organs in the human body. The lungs occupy a large percentage of the chest cavity, and each lung is protected by the rib cage. The lungs vary slightly in size: the left lung is a little bigger than the right lung because it shares more space with the heart. 

The diaphragm, which is located just below the lungs, expands and contracts to push carbon dioxide out of each lung and draw fresh oxygen in.

The lungs also make it possible for us to communicate through speech. 

Here's how your lungs work (note the human lung picture to the right).

Air comes into the lungs through the windpipe into two tubes called bronchi, which are part of the respiratory system. The bronchi then divide into bronchioles, which are smaller tubes. The bronchioles divide even further into tiny air sacs called alveoli.

On the inside, a normal lung is pinkish in color, and it resembles a sponge with many tiny holes and bubbles. Minute blood vessels surround these holes, and the blood vessels exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. This is known as "gas exchange." Blood that has circulated throughout the body is pumped by the heart each lung. After the gas exchange, the blood goes from the lung back to the heart where it is pumped to the rest of the body. This process is called pulmonary circulation. Without oxygen from our lungs, our cells could not function.

There are many lung diseases and lung conditions. The most common problems that affect lung funtion are covered with separate articles or sections on this website.

The goal of this website is to share basic information about human lung function, lung diseases and lung wellness. It is intended for use by the general public. Always rely on a doctor to make medical diagnoses and treatment recommendations regarding your lungs.

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