2007-01-01 14:27:15 · 20 answers · asked by iloveME! 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
The lungs are surrounded by two membranes, the pleurae. The outer pleura is attached to the chest wall and is known as the Parietal pleura; the inner one is attached to the lung and other visceral tissues and is known as the Visceral pleura. In between the two is a thin space known as the pleural cavity or pleural space. It is filled with pleural fluid, a serous fluid produced by the pleura.
The pleural fluid lubricates the pleural surfaces and allows the layers of pleura to slide against each other easily during respiration. It also provides the surface tension that keeps the lung surface in contact with the chest wall. During quiet breathing, the cavity normally experiences a negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) which helps adhere the lungs to the chest wall, so that movements of the chest wall during breathing are coupled closely to movements of the lungs.
The pleural membrane also helps to keep the two lungs away from each other and air tight, thus if one lung is punctured and collapses due to an accident, the other pleural cavity will still be air tight, and the other lung will work normally
The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain; the visceral pleura is not. The visceral pleura has a dual blood supply, from the bronchial and pulmonary arteries. In humans, there is no anatomical connection between the left and right pleural cavities, so in cases of pneumothorax (see below), the other hemithorax will still be able to function normally.
2007-01-01 14:29:23 · answer #1 · answered by Tek ~aka~Legs! 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
The lungs are surrounded by two membranes, the pleurae. The outer pleura is attached to the chest wall and is known as the Parietal pleura; the inner one is attached to the lung and other visceral tissues and is known as the Visceral pleura. In between the two is a thin space known as the pleural cavity or pleural space. It is filled with pleural fluid, a serous fluid produced by the pleura.
2007-01-01 14:29:07 · answer #2 · answered by Dough 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pleura is the thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid.
2007-01-01 14:34:30 · answer #3 · answered by S&S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid.
2007-01-01 14:29:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's in the chest cavity, it's a small area that produces a small amount of fluid on a regular basis.
One can not cough up their pleura... the person who asked this question is stoned.
2007-01-01 14:30:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's a thin, fluid filled membrane that surrounds your lungs so when you breath, there isn't friction as your chest moves over the lungs. The pleural membrane sometimes becomes infected (pleurisy) which is very painful with each inhalation and requires a regimen of antibiotics to cure.
2007-01-01 14:35:55 · answer #6 · answered by SDTerp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pleura is a medical term pertaining to the lungs
2007-01-01 14:29:03 · answer #7 · answered by lelenguyen05 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The lining in the chest/around the lungs equivalent to the peritoneum in the belly.
2007-01-01 14:50:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lungs
2007-01-01 14:30:42 · answer #9 · answered by kman1830 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Anatomy, Zoology. a delicate serous membrane investing each lung in mammals and folded back as a lining of the corresponding side of the thorax.
2007-01-01 14:30:01 · answer #10 · answered by m 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋