Embryology of the Lung

Abstract

The lungs are part of the lower respiratory tract, which in its entirety consists of the larynx, the trachea, the bronchi and the lungs. The lung development is subdivided into three main overlapping periods: the embryonic, the fetal and the postnatal period. Interestingly their functional maturation is not achieved at birth. Even if their main physiological function of gas exchange begins at birth, alveolarization and microvascular maturation of the lungs continue until young adulthood.