Lungs: Health and Healing Dictionary on Lungs

Lungs: A pair of elastic, spongy organs used in breathing and respiration. In humans the lungs occupy a large portion of the chest cavity from the collarbone down to the diapragm a dome-shaped sheet of muscle that walls off the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

Air travels to the lungs through a series of air tubes and passages. It enters the body through the nostrils or the mouth, passing down the throat to the larynx, or voice box, and then to the windpipe. In the chest cavity the windpipe divides into two branches, called the right and left bronchi or bronchial tubes that enter the lungs. Although the words breathing and respiration are sometimes used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings.

Breathing is the process of moving oxygen rich air into and out of the lungs. Respiration refers to all of the processes involved in getting oxygen to tissues, including breathing, diffusion of oxygen from the lungs to the blood, transport by the blood, and diffusion from the blood to tissues. Because body cells are constantly using up oxygen and producing carbon dioxide, the lungs work continuously. An adult normally breathes from 14 to 20 times per minute.

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For more articles on Lungs , see: Lungs , Body Mind and Soul or Alternative Health

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The text about Lungs  has been edited with the main source being http://www.reiki.nu and Goran Sandwall, Reiki Master. Please visit http://www.reiki.nu for more information on reiki, healing and health.