Pleurae and Pleural Cavities: Clinical

Question 1

T/F: The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain due to the high innervation.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

What is it called when the pleural cavity fills with air?

Answer 2

Pneumothorax

Question 3

Which of the causes of a pneumothorax will result in air coming from outside of the lung?

Answer 3

Trauma (often called a sucking chest wound)

Question 4

What are the causes of pneumothorax?

Answer 4

1) Trauma
2) Disease
3) Congenital Weak Spot

Question 5

A patient comes to you with cyonotic (blue) lips/face, a trachea that has deviated to the left side, history of COPD, and has difficulty breathing out. What condition do you suspect?

Answer 5

Tension Pneumothorax of the right pleural cavity

Question 6

What is the major differnece between a traditional and tension pneumothorax?

Answer 6

In a tension pneumothorax, there is a flap of pleura covering the hole instead of a gaping hole that is allowing air to escape

Question 7

What is it known as when the pleural cavity fills with blood?

Answer 7

Hemothorax

Question 8

What is it known as when both blood and air will fill the pleural cavity at the same time?

Answer 8

Hemopneumothorax

in other words, very, very bad

Question 9

T/F: All of the conditions where somethign fills the pleural cavity will cause atelectasis (lung collapse)

Answer 9

True

Question 10

What is an inflammation of the pleura with leads to adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleurae?

Answer 10

Pleuritis

Question 11

Why is pleuritis so painful?

Answer 11

Becuase of the high sensory innervation of the parietal pleura

Question 12

Along what nerve does the pain of pleuritis distribute?

Answer 12

Suprascapular Nerve (C3, C4)

Question 13

When performing auscultation, what would you hear if pleuritis is suspected?

Answer 13

A plueral rub when the patient is breathing, but goes away when they hold their breath