Pleurae and Pleural Cavities

Question 1

What are the three smaller cavities that the thoracic cavity is subdivided into?

Answer 1

1) 2 pleural cavities, each of which surrounds a lung

2) 1 mediastinum

Question 2

Where is the mediastinum located?

Answer 2

The area between the two pleural cavities which contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, etc.

Question 3

Which type of pleura lines the inner surface of the thorax?

Answer 3

Pariteal pleura

Question 4

Which type of pleura intimately invests the lung?

Answer 4

Visceral pleura

Question 5

What is the pleural cavity?

Answer 5

A potential space between the parietal and visceral pleurae

Question 6

What is the function of the pleural fluid?

Answer 6

Lubricates the pleurae to minimize friction between the parietal and visceral layers, facilitating movement of the lungs

Question 7

What are the 4 parts of the parietal pleura (figure 3.36)?

Answer 7

1) Costal pleura
2) Mediastinal pleura
3) Diaphragmatic pleura
4) Cervical pleura

Question 8

What are the spaces that are found between two folds of parietal pleura?

Answer 8

Pleural recesses

Question 9

What is the function of pleural recesses?

Answer 9

Allow expansion of the lung during inspiration

Question 10

What is the space called that is formed where the costal and diaphragmatic pleurae meet?

Answer 10

Costodiaphragmatic recess

Question 11

What is the space called that is formed where the costal and mediastinal pleurae meet?

Answer 11

Costomediastinal recess

Question 12

Why is the costodiaphragmatic recess clinically important?

Answer 12

Fluid tends to accumulate in this area and can be removed by thoracentesis at intercostal space 9, during expiration

Question 13

Which arteries supply the parietal pleura?

Answer 13

Intercostal arteries, internal thoracic artery, and superior phrenic artery

Question 14

Which arteries supply the visceral pleura?

Answer 14

Bronchial artery

Question 15

Which nerves innervate the parietal pleura?

Answer 15

Intercostal nerves, subcostal nerve, and phrenic nerve

Question 16

T or F. The visceral pleura is highly sensitive to pain.

Answer 16

False; the visceral pleura has no sensory innervation. The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain.

Question 17

What is pneumothorax?

Answer 17

Pleural cavities fill with air

Question 18

What are the causes of pneumothorax?

Answer 18

1) Trauma
2) Disease
3) Congenital weak spot

Question 19

What is tension pneumothorax?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What is the mechanism behind pneumothorax?

Answer 20

The pleural cavity inflates like an inner tube, pushing the mediastinum to the opposite side and compressing the other lung.

Question 21

What is the mechanism behind pneumothorax?

Answer 21

The pleural cavity inflates like an inner tube, pushing the mediastinum to the opposite side and compressing the other lung.

Question 22

What is hemothorax?

Answer 22

The pleural cavity fills with blood

Question 23

What is hemopneumothorax?

Answer 23

Both hemothorax and pneumothorax are present, simultaneously

Question 24

What does pneumothorax, hemothorax, and hemopneumothorax result in?

Answer 24

Atelectasis aka. lung collapse

Question 25

What is pleuritis?

Answer 25

Inflammation of pleurae which leads to adhesions between parietal and visceral pleura.

Question 26

What type of sound does pleuritis produce?

Answer 26

Pleural friction rub, which can be heard on auscultation

Question 27

Explain the pain pattern of pleuritis.

Answer 27

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)