Colored Superior Lobes of the Lungs

Description

Viewed from the patient’s right side with a cranial bias, the right superior (upper) lobe is presented with its segmental anatomy emphasized in color. The apical segment (S1) occupies the most superior and cranial portion of the lobe, while the posterior segment (S2) expands posterolaterally across the upper thorax. Anteriorly, the anterior segment (S3) wraps toward the sternocostal surface, separated from the middle lobe inferiorly by the horizontal fissure and from the inferior lobe posteriorly and inferiorly by the oblique fissure. Segment-level orientation matters because the superior lobe is a frequent site for aspiration-related infection patterns in supine patients and for apical disease processes, including reactivation tuberculosis and apical blebs associated with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Bronchoscopic planning and thoracic surgery both rely on this map: the segmental bronchi (B1 to B3) and accompanying pulmonary arterial branches track with these territories, guiding a targeted segmentectomy when wedge resection is inadequate. Clear fissural boundaries also help learners understand why some pneumonias respect lobar margins while others cross intersegmental planes. Use this artwork in gross anatomy and respiratory blocks when teaching bronchopulmonary segments, in radiology teaching files to correlate with right upper lobe opacities on chest radiograph or CT, and in thoracic surgery materials describing VATS or robotic right upper lobectomy and segmentectomy. It also supports patient education on right apical lesions and procedural consent discussions. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.