KERA News: Study finds increase in lung cancer among younger women. A North Texas doctor weighs in Study finds increase in lung cancer among younger women. A North Texas doctor weighs in The state health department says lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in Texas.

Understanding the Context

Older patients tend to get it most, but a new study finds younger women between 35 and 54 getting lung ... Humans have two lungs, a right lung and a left lung. They are situated within the thoracic cavity of the chest. The right lung is bigger than the left, and the left lung shares space in the chest with the heart.

Key Insights

The lungs together weigh approximately 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb), and the right is heavier. Lung, in air-breathing vertebrates, either of the two large organs of respiration located in the chest cavity and responsible for adding oxygen to and removing carbon dioxide from the blood. A typical adult lung weighs about 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) and is a little longer than 9 inches (about 24 centimeters) when you’re breathing normally. It’s about 10.5 inches (27 cm) when your lungs are completely expanded. Each lung receives air from a single, large primary bronchus.

Final Thoughts

As the primary bronchi enter the lungs, they branch off into smaller secondary bronchi that carry air to each lobe of the lung. Your left lung is slightly smaller than your right lung, since your heart takes up some space on the left side. When you breathe in, air enters your airways and travels down into the air sacs, or alveoli, in your lungs.