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where are the lungs located

The lungs are located inside the chest , on the left and right sides of the heart, protected by the rib cage and sitting above the diaphragm.

Basic location

  • The lungs sit in the thoracic cavity, which is the space between your neck and your abdomen.
  • Each person normally has two lungs, one on each side of the chest, with the heart positioned between them.

How they sit in the body

  • The tops (apices) of the lungs extend slightly above the level of the first rib into the lower part of the neck.
  • The bottoms (bases) of the lungs rest on the diaphragm, the main breathing muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen.

Relationship to other structures

  • The lungs are enclosed by the ribs and chest wall, which protect them and help with breathing movements.
  • They lie on either side of the mediastinum, the central area that contains the heart, major blood vessels, and other structures.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.