You will find the significant difference between the left and right lungs of an ox. Here, I will provide the short answer to the question – what is the difference between the left and right lung of an ox with a diagram?
Quick answer: the right lung of an ox is larger and possesses four distinct lobes. At the same time, the left lung of an ox is smaller than the right and possesses two distinct lobes. The cardiac impression is deeper in the right lung, whereas the cardiac notch is wider in the left lung.
Structure of the ox lung
The ipsilateral pleural sac covers the right and left lungs. Each lung of an ox possesses a cranial apex, caudal base, two surfaces, and three borders.
The caudal base is also known as the diaphragmatic surface. It is related to the convex thoracic surface of the diaphragm. It is concave, more or less elliptical, and bounded by the basal border.
Two surfaces of each lung are the costal and medial. Again, the dorsal, ventral, and basal are the three borders of both the right and left lungs of an ox.
You will also find the lobes in the ox’s lungs that are divided by the interlobar fissure. The apical, middle (cardiac), caudal (diaphragmatic), and accessory (intermediate) are the four distinct lobes of the right lung of an ox.
Here, in the ox lung labelled diagram, I tried to show the apex, base, surfaces, borders, and lobes. However, you may learn more about the anatomy of ox lung so that you can easily differentiate them from each other.
What is the difference between the left and right lung of an ox?
- Size of the lungs: The right lung of an ox is twice as large as the left. This is because the right lung has an accessory lobe and a very large apical lobe. Again, the majority of the ox heart occupies the left side, thus making the left lung smaller.
- Lobes of the lungs: the right lung of an ox shows apical, cardiac, diaphragmatic, and accessory lobes. But, the left lung shows only two lobes – apical and diaphragmatic. Again, the apical lobe divides into the smaller apical part and a larger cardiac part.
- Bronchus: both the lungs of an ox possess the primary bronchus. However, the right lung possesses an extra apical bronchus that ventilates the apical lobe. An apical bronchus is a peculiar feature of the ruminant lung.
- The base of the lung: the base of the right lung is more concave compared to the left lung.
- Cardiac impressions and notches: The cardiac impression is deeper in the ox’s right lung. However, the cardiac notch is wide and forms an L-shaped gap in the ox’s left lung.
Here, the diagram shows the different features between the right and left lungs of the ox.
Summary of the difference between the left and right lung of an ox
Table 1 shows the top difference between the left and right lungs of an ox on the basis of their features –
| Features | Right lung of the ox | Left lung of the ox |
| Size | Larger | Smaller |
| Number of the lobes | Four (4) Apical Cardiac Diaphragmatic Accessory | Two (2) Apical Diaphragmatic |
| Apical lobe | Larger in right lung | Smaller in left lung |
| Accessory lobe | Present | Absent |
| Apical bronchus | Present in right lung | Absent in left lung |
| Base of the lung | More concave | Less concave |
| Cardiac impression | Deeper in the right lung | Shallow in the left lung |
| Cardiac notch | Less wide | More wide and form L gap |
The diaphragmatic lobe in each lobe is larger than the other lobes. It faces caudally and lies in front of the diaphragm.
Conclusion
So, the main difference between the left and right lungs of an ox is found in their size, lobes, bronchus, and cardiac impression. A small accessory lobe and apical bronchus of the right lung may be the key features to differentiate it from the left lung.