The superior (upper) lobe of the left lung lies above and in front of the oblique fissure and includes the apex and the lingula. Its front border is indented by the cardiac notch. It is usually described as having four or five segments: apicoposterior, anterior, and superior and inferior lingular.
| Location | Upper and anterior part of the left lung, from the apex above the clavicle down to the lingula near the 6th costal cartilage. |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Pulmonary plexus; Vagus nerve (parasympathetic, bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion); Sympathetic fibres from T2-T5 ganglia (bronchodilation) |
| Blood Supply | Left pulmonary artery (upper lobe branches); Left bronchial arteries |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Contributes to gas exchange in the left lung; its lingula corresponds to the middle lobe of the right lung.
Like the right upper lobe, the left apex is a site for Pancoast tumours and reactivated tuberculosis. Tumours near its hilum can involve the left recurrent laryngeal nerve as it loops under the aortic arch, causing hoarseness. Collapse of this lobe produces a hazy veil over the left chest on X-ray.
Collapse of the lobe, often from a central tumour, giving a hazy veil-like opacity on X-ray. Bronchoscopy is usually needed to find the cause.
Cancer at the lung apex invading nearby nerves and ribs. It causes shoulder and arm pain and may cause Horner syndrome.
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