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Dissection of lungs in situ

Left lung.

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Image #125-7
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Dissection of lungs in situ
Left lung.
The left upper lobe has been retracted anteriorly and toward the right. The pleura in the depths of the oblique fissure has been cut to expose the interlobar parts of the left pulmonary artery, the pulmonary plexus of nerves and bronchopulmonary lymph nodes and vessels. Unlike the situation in the right lung (124-7), there is no area of fusion of upper and lower lobes on the left.
  1. Left subclavian artery
  2. Left vertebral artery (unusual origin from aortic arch)
  3. Left common carotid artery
  4. Brachiocephalic trunk
  5. Aortic arch
  6. Left vagus nerve
  7. Ligamentum arteriosum
  8. Upper lobe (retracted)
  9. Interlobar surface upper lobe
  10. Posterior branches left pulmonary artery (entering upper lobe)
  11. Posterior mediastinal lymph node
  12. Costal pleura (pointer on third rib)
  13. Upper pointer: Recurrent laryngeal nerve Lower pointer: Thoracic aorta
  14. Upper pointer: Vagus nerve Lower pointer: Branch entering pulmonary plexus
  15. Line of reflection of pleura between lobes of lung
  16. Left pulmonary artery
  17. Bronchopulmonary lymph nodes
  18. Left lower lobe bronchus
  19. Interlobar surface lower lobe