The Pleura Flashcards
What are the lungs enclosed by?
A thin membrane known as the pleura
What does the pleura also line?
Walls of the thoracic cavity
What is pleura that is associated with the walls of the cavity known as?
Parietal pleura
What does the partial pleura line?
The pulmonary cavities and its connected to the thoracic wall, the mediastinum, and the diaphragm
What is the pleura associated with the lungs called?
Visceral pleural
What does the visceral pleura cover?
The lungs and is connected to all surfaces including the horizontal and oblique fissures
What are both layers of the pleura?
Continuous with each other - they are one giant sheet of membrane that folds to cover the lungs and line the cavity
What are the two pleura’s continuous at?
The root of the lung
What is the space between the two layers called?
Pleural cavity
What does the pleural cavity contain?
A tiny quantity of fluid - it is also called a potential space
What type of membrane is pleura?
It is a serous membrane and produces a serous lubricating fluid
What does the serous fluid provide?
Smooth movement of the lungs when they expand and collapse throughout respiration. The fluid also provides surface tension that keeps the surface of the lungs in contact with the thoracic wall
