Question

Explain the role of lungs in respiration.

Answer 1

Lungs:

1. There are a pair of lungs which are spongy and elastic in nature.
2. Lungs are lobbed structures (left lung is two lobbed and right lung is three lobbed).
3. Lungs are covered by a two-layered membrane called pleural membrane which is filled with a fluid called pleural fluid.
4. This fluid helps in the lubrication of the lung which makes the diffusion of gas easier.

Role of lungs in respiration:

1. Lungs play an important role in gaseous exchange.
2. In inhalation (intake of air from surrounding), the air flows into lungs and it becomes inflated.
3. The inhaled air is oxygen-rich while the blood of capillaries of alveoli is rich in carbon dioxide.
4. The carbon dioxide diffuses to the air from blood capillaries and oxygen diffuses from air to blood in capillaries.
5. During exhalation, carbon dioxide-rich air rushes out from the lungs by deflating them.