What Tissues Make up the Lungs?
Tissues that make up the lungs include bronchioles, epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells and alveoli, according to Centre of the Cell. Many of the lungs’ tissues consist of several different cell types.
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity of the body, and they take up most of the space in that area, according to InnerBody. The lungs are large, spongy organs that are surrounded by a double layer of serous membranes. The outer layer of the serous membrane is called the parietal pleura, and the inner layer, or visceral pleura, is the section that covers the lung surface. The pleural cavity, or hollow space within the lungs, is the part of the organ that expands when a person inhales. If the inner surface of the lungs were to be stretched out and laid flat, it would be approximately the size of half a tennis court.
The lungs are an extremely important part of a life cycle. The lungs take in oxygen, which is necessary for survival, and they rid the body of dangerous levels of carbon dioxide. The bronchioles and the alveoli work together to help keep air moving through the body, according to Centre of the Cell.