HESI (Health and Environmental Sciences Institute) Health Assessment Practice Test

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Prepare for the HESI Health Assessment Test. Engage with interactive quizzes and detailed explanations. Master your exam sections with ease and confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What anatomical feature makes the right lung shorter than the left lung?

The underlying stomach
The underlying heart
The underlying liver
The underlying diaphragm

The correct answer is: The underlying liver

The correct answer is related to the anatomical positioning of the organs within the thoracic cavity. The right lung is shorter than the left lung primarily due to the presence of the underlying liver, which occupies a significant portion of the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. The liver's size and position push the base of the right lung upward, resulting in a shorter vertical height compared to the left lung, which is not similarly limited because it has the space to extend downward further due to the left atrium of the heart being positioned slightly more medially and posteriorly. Understanding this anatomical relationship is essential for comprehending lung function and capacity, as well as for making clinical assessments during respiratory examinations.