s-6-PLEURAL REFLECTIONS

Question 1

Pleural Reflections
Q: What are pleural reflections?
Q: Where do pleural reflections occur?

Answer 1

A: Lines where the parietal pleura folds back or changes direction.
A:

Anteriorly & Posteriorly: Costal pleura meets mediastinal pleura
Inferiorly: Costal pleura meets diaphragmatic pleura

Question 2

Pleural Recesses
Q: What is a pleural recess?
Q: What are the two main pleural recesses?

Answer 2

A: A deep space in the pleural cavity that the lungs expand into during full inspiration.

A:
-Costodiaphragmatic recess: Between the costal & diaphragmatic pleura, along the lung’s inferior border.
-Costomediastinal recess: Between the costal & mediastinal pleura, along the lung’s anterior border

Question 3

Surface Projections of Pleurae & Lungs
Q: How far does the pleura extend at different points?
Q: How much higher is the visceral pleura compared to the parietal pleura?

Answer 3

A:

-Anteriorly (Parasternal line):
-Reaches midline at rib 2,
deviates left at rib 4 (cardiac
notch), deviates right at rib 6.
-Mid-Clavicular Line:
-Visceral pleura reaches rib 6
-Parietal pleura reaches rib 8
-Posteriorly (Paravertebral line):
-Visceral pleura reaches rib 10
-Parietal pleura reaches rib 12
A: The visceral pleura is typically 2 ribs superior to the parietal pleura at mid-inspiration.

Question 4

Fissures of the Lung
Q: Where do the oblique and horizontal fissures of the lung lie

Answer 4

A:

Oblique fissure: Starts at T4 posteriorly and ends at rib 6 anteriorly.
Horizontal fissure: At the level of rib 4.

Question 5

Mediastinal Surface Impressions
Q: What causes impressions on the mediastinal surface of the lungs?

Answer 5

A: Structures like the heart, aorta, esophagus, and pulmonary vessels.

Question 6

Clinical Significance
Q: Why are pleural reflections important in medicine?
Q: What is a common cause of respiratory failure?

Answer 6

A: They help in procedures like pleural fluid drainage and understanding lung expansion.
A: Pulmonary embolism.