Pleurae and Pleural Cavities Flashcards
What are the three smaller cavities that the thoracic cavity is subdivided into?
1) 2 pleural cavities, each of which surrounds a lung
2) 1 mediastinum
Where is the mediastinum located?
The area between the two pleural cavities which contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, etc.
Which type of pleura lines the inner surface of the thorax?
Pariteal pleura
Which type of pleura intimately invests the lung?
Visceral pleura
What is the pleural cavity?
A potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae
What is the function of the pleural fluid?
Lubricates the pleurae to minimize friction between the parietal and visceral layers, facilitating movement of the lungs
What are the 4 parts of the parietal pleura (figure 3.36)?
1) Costal pleura
2) Mediastinal pleura
3) Diaphragmatic pleura
4) Cervical pleura
What are the spaces that are found between two folds of parietal pleura?
Pleural recesses
What is the function of pleural recesses?
Allow expansion of the lung during inspiration
What is the space called that is formed where the costal and diaphragmatic pleurae meet?
Costodiaphragmatic recess
What is the space called that is formed where the costal and mediastinal pleurae meet?
Costomediastinal recess
Why is the costodiaphragmatic recess clinically important?
Fluid tends to accumulate in this area and can be removed by thoracentesis at intercostal space 9, during expiration
Which arteries supply the parietal pleura?
Intercostal arteries, internal thoracic artery, and superior phrenic artery
Which arteries supply the visceral pleura?
Bronchial artery
Which nerves innervate the parietal pleura?
Intercostal nerves, subcostal nerve, and phrenic nerve
T or F. The visceral pleura is highly sensitive to pain.
False; the visceral pleura has no sensory innervation. The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain.
What is pneumothorax?
Pleural cavities fill with air
What are the causes of pneumothorax?
1) Trauma
2) Disease
3) Congenital weak spot
What is tension pneumothorax?
Instead of a hole, a flap is present on the visceral pleura. So, air can enter the pleural cavity on inspiration, but cannot exit during expiration
What is the mechanism behind pneumothorax?
The pleural cavity inflates like an inner tube, pushing the mediastinum to the opposite side and compressing the other lung.
What is the mechanism behind pneumothorax?
The pleural cavity inflates like an inner tube, pushing the mediastinum to the opposite side and compressing the other lung.
What is hemothorax?
The pleural cavity fills with blood
What is hemopneumothorax?
Both hemothorax and pneumothorax are present, simultaneously
What does pneumothorax, hemothorax, and hemopneumothorax result in?
Atelectasis aka. lung collapse
What is pleuritis?
Inflammation of pleurae which leads to adhesions between parietal and visceral pleura.
What type of sound does pleuritis produce?
Pleural friction rub, which can be heard on auscultation
Explain the pain pattern of pleuritis.
It is a painful condition due to sensory innervation of parietal pleura. The pain is often referred to the shoulder via the phrenic nerve (C3, C4, C5) but is radiates along distribution of supraclavicular nerves (C3, C4)
