(know your lobes)

Ventrolateral view, cranial lobe

Ventrolateral view, middle lobe

Ventrolateral view, caudal lobe

Ventrolateral view, accessory (mediastinal) lobe

The lungs are the major respiratory organs of the body.  They are responsible for the exchange of the respiratory gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide.  In getting rid of carbon dioxide they function as a major excretory organ.  To facilitate the gas exchange they have undergone miniaturization that effectively increases the surface area to volume ratio.  The functional unit of the lung is the microscopic alveolus.  There are four lobes in the right lung of the cat but only three lobes in the human right lung.