What is the difference between the left and right lung in terms of lobes? Which is bigger and why?

The human lungs are divided into sections called lobes. The right lung has three lobes: the superior, middle, and inferior lobes. The left lung, on the other hand, has only two lobes: the superior and inferior lobes.

The reason for this difference is the presence of the heart on the left side of the body. The heart occupies space in the chest cavity and the left lung is shaped to accommodate this. This is why the left lung is slightly smaller than the right lung.

In terms of size, the right lung is bigger. This is because it has an extra lobe and the left lung has to make space for the heart. The right lung is approximately 10% larger than the left lung. However, the left lung is longer because the diaphragm, which separates the lungs from the abdominal cavity, is higher on the right side to accommodate the liver, which sits high and to the right.

So, in summary, the right lung is larger and has three lobes, while the left lung is smaller due to the space taken up by the heart and has two lobes.