Anatomy of pleural cavity Flashcards
How many pleural membranes encloses the lungs ?
2
What are the 2 pleura that encloses the lungs ?
Parietal pleura
Visceral pleura
What is the visceral pleura ?
Lines outer surface of the lungs
Stuck to the surface of lungs and stuck to parietal pleural via pleural fluid
What is the parietal pleura ?
Stuck to the inside of the ribs and diaphragm
What fills the pleural cavity ?
Intrapleural fluid
What is the function of the pleural membranes ?
Stick the lungs to the ribcage
How are both pleural membranes closely connected ?
Cohesive forces of the pleural fluid
How can the lungs expand ?
Stuck to the chest wall via pleural membranes and expand due to movement of the chest wall
When does the chest wall expand ?
During inspiration
When does the chest wall recoil ?
During unforced expiration
Due to recoil of elastic connective tissue in the lungs
What holds the lungs to the chest wall ?
Cohesive forces of pleural fluid
What forces are in equilibrium with each other ?
At the end of normal expiration the chest wants to expand further, whereas the elastic fibres in the lungs want to recoil
What is a pneumothorax ?
Air in the pleural cavity
