2. Anatomy of the Pleural Cavity

Question 1

How many pleural membranes encloses the lungs ?

Answer 1

2

Question 2

What are the 2 pleura that encloses the lungs ?

Answer 2

Parietal pleura Visceral pleura

Question 3

What is the visceral pleura ?

Answer 3

Lines outer surface of the lungs Stuck to the surface of lungs and stuck to parietal pleural via pleural fluid

Question 4

What is the parietal pleura ?

Answer 4

Stuck to the inside of the ribs and diaphragm

Question 5

What fills the pleural cavity ?

Answer 5

Intrapleural fluid

Question 6

What is the function of the pleural membranes ?

Answer 6

Stick the lungs to the ribcage

Question 7

How are both pleural membranes closely connected ?

Answer 7

Cohesive forces of the pleural fluid

Question 8

How can the lungs expand ?

Answer 8

Stuck to the chest wall via pleural membranes and expand due to movement of the chest wall

Question 9

When does the chest wall expand ?

Answer 9

During inspiration

Question 10

When does the chest wall recoil ?

Answer 10

During unforced expirationDue to recoil of elastic connective tissue in the lungs

Question 11

What holds the lungs to the chest wall ?

Answer 11

Cohesive forces of pleural fluid

Question 12

What forces are in equilibrium with each other ?

Answer 12

At the end of normal expiration the chest wants to expand further, whereas the elastic fibres in the lungs want to recoil

Question 13

What is a pneumothorax ?

Answer 13

Air in the pleural cavity