Final answer:
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity, which is enclosed by the rib cage and protected by the diaphragm. This cavity is part of the anterior body cavity and is separated from the abdominopelvic cavity by the diaphragm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lungs are located in the thoracic cavity. This cavity is the superior subdivision of the anterior (ventral) cavity, and it is protected and enclosed by the rib cage and the intercostal muscles. The thoracic cavity not only houses the lungs but also contains the heart within the mediastinum. The diaphragm, a critical muscle in the breathing process, forms the floor of the thoracic cavity, separating it from the abdominopelvic cavity below.
Respected for their function in the respiratory tract, the lungs are each divided into lobes, which are separated by connective tissues. The right lung typically has three lobes, and is larger, whereas the left lung has two lobes and is slightly smaller to accommodate the heart. The mammalian lungs, including those of humans, are essential for the exchange of gases—oxygen and carbon dioxide—during the process of inhalation and exhalation.