Session 2 - The pleura Flashcards
What is the pleura?
• A serous membrane consisting of a single layer of mesothelial cells with a thin layer of underlying connective tissue
What is the parietal pleura?
• Lines the inside of the hemithorax and becomes continuous at the hilum of the lung with the visceral pleura.
What does the visceral pleura line?
• Extends between the lobes of the lung into the depths of the oblique and horizontal fissures
What is the blood supply of the pleura?
• The intercostal and internal thoracic arteries and veins
What is the innervation of the pleura?
• Both somatic (intercostal and phrenic nerves) and autonomic
What is pleural space?
• A potential space between two layers of pleura which are continuous at the hilum
What is the purpose of pleural fluid?
• Allows the two layers of the pleura to slide over one another with minimal friction.
What is the blood and nerve supply to the parietal pleura?
- The intercostal arteries and internal thoracic arteries
* Somatic innervation from phrenic and intercostal nerves
What is the blood and nerve supply to the visceral pleura?
- Bronchial arteries and drained by the bronchial veins
* Only autonomic innervation
What is the pleural cavity?
• A potential space between two layers of pleura that are continuous at the hilum
What does the pleura fluid allow?
• Two layers to slide on one another
What are the lines of pleural reflection?
• The lines along which the parietal pleura change direction
Give three lines of pleural reflection
- Sternal
- Costal
- Diaphragmatic
Where does the trachea commence?
• At the lower border of the cricoid cartilage in the neck
What is the angle between the right and left main bronchi known as?
The carina
How is the trachea held open?
• By 18-22 C shaped cartilages
Supported posteriorly by trachealis muscle
What is the angle between the right and left main bronchi known as?
• Carina
What is the cell type which lines the trachea?
Pseudo stratified columnar ciliated epithelium
Which bronchus is wider, shorted and more vertical than the other?
• The right
What do the primary bronchi divide into?
• Lobar bronchi
What is the part of the lung supplied by each segmental bronchus called?
Bronchopulmonary segment
Describe a bronchopulmonary segment
• A pyramid shaped area of lung with its apex facing towards the hilum and base towards lung surface.
Each is supplied by a segmental branch of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein
Why is knowledge of bronchopulmonary segments surgically important?
• Because they can be isolated and removed without much bleeding or air leakage, or intefering with other bronchopulmonary segments
What can be visualised with a bronchoscopy?
• The whole inner trachea, the carina, the main bronchi, lobar bronchi and the origin of the segmental bronchi can be visualised
Can be used to see bronchial carcinomas