The surface of the lung resting against the ribs. It is rounded to match the curvature of the ribs. Mediastinal surface Contains the hilus, through which bronchi, pulmonary vessels, lymphatics and nerves enter and exit. These are held together by the pleura and connective tissue and constitute the root of the lung. Cardiac notch Medial cavity on the surface of the left lung which fits around the heart.
Right lung is thicker and broader than the left.
It is shorter than the left lung because the diaphragm is higher on the right to accommodate the liver lying below it. A condition accompanying pneumothorax or hemothorax in car wrecks is called flail chest, Figure 8 . In short, what happens is that a patient catches a steering wheel in their chest, breaking numerous ribs in more than one place. Upon inhalation, then, the undamaged ribs expand as they are supposed, but the damaged ribs collapse in, grinding the broken rib ends together. On exhalation, the undamaged chest contracts and the damaged ribs move out, again grinding the broken rib ends across each other.