The pleura and the lungs

Question 1

What does the thoracic cavity contain?

Answer 1

The thoracic cavity contains two pulmonary cavities (pleural cavities) and lungs, as well as the mediastinum.

Question 2

What is the function of the pleura?

Answer 2

The pleura is a serous membrane that lines the pulmonary cavity and invests the lungs.

Question 3

What are the two layers of the pleura?

Answer 3

The two layers of the pleura are the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura.

Question 4

What is the pleural cavity?

Answer 4

The pleural cavity is a potential space between the layers of the pleura.

Question 5

What does the pleural cavity contain?

Answer 5

The pleural cavity contains pleural fluid.

Question 6

What are the different parts of the parietal pleura?

Answer 6

The parietal pleura consists of the costal part (lines the thoracic wall), the mediastinal part (lines the mediastinum), the diaphragmatic part (covers the superior surface of the diaphragm), and the cervical pleura (covers the lung apex).

Question 7

What does the visceral pleura invest?

Answer 7

The visceral pleura invests the parenchyma of the lungs.

Question 8

What are pleural reflections?

Answer 8

Pleural reflections refer to the changes in direction of the pleura from one wall of the pleural cavity to another.

Question 9

What are the different types of pleural reflections?

Answer 9

The different types of pleural reflections include sternal, costal, and vertebral reflections.

Question 10

What are pleural recesses and what is their function?

Answer 10

Pleural recesses are larger pleural spaces that allow for lung expansion during forced inspiration. The two main pleural recesses are the costodiaphragmatic recess and the costomediastinal recess.

Question 11

What is the tracheobronchial tree responsible for?

Answer 11

The tracheobronchial tree serves as the passage of air, with the conducting zone/tract responsible for air passage from the nasal cavity to the terminal bronchioles.

Question 12

What is the function of the respiratory zone/tract in the bronchial tree?

Answer 12

The respiratory zone/tract is the functional unit responsible for gas exchange, starting from the respiratory bronchioles and ending at the alveoli.

Question 13

What are the main components of the bronchial tree?

Answer 13

The bronchial tree includes the trachea, primary/main bronchi, secondary/lobar bronchi, tertiary/segmental bronchi, terminal bronchioles, respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts and sacs, and alveoli.

Question 14

Where does the trachea begin and end?

Answer 14

The trachea starts at the level of the sixth cervical vertebra (C6).

Question 15

How many primary/main bronchi are there and what are their characteristics?

Answer 15

There are two primary/main bronchi. The right main bronchus is short, wide, and vertical, while the left main bronchus is long, narrow, and inferolateral.

Question 16

How many secondary/lobar bronchi are present in the bronchial tree?

Answer 16

There are two secondary/lobar bronchi on the left side and three on the right side.

Question 17

What are the tertiary/segmental bronchi?

Answer 17

Tertiary/segmental bronchi are branches of the secondary bronchi that further divide into bronchopulmonary segments.

Question 18

What are the respiratory bronchioles connected to?

Answer 18

The respiratory bronchioles are connected to the alveolar ducts and sacs.

Question 19

How many alveoli are present in the bronchial tree?

Answer 19

The bronchial tree contains approximately 300 million alveoli.

Question 20

Where are the lungs located within the body?

Answer 20

The lungs are located within each pulmonary cavity and are surrounded by the visceral pleura

Question 21

What are bronchopulmonary segments?

Answer 21

Bronchopulmonary segments are pyramidal-shaped segments within the lungs. Their apices face the root of the lung, while their bases face the pleural surface. There are approximately 10 bronchopulmonary segments in the right lung and 8-10 in the left lung. Each segment is named after its corresponding segmental or tertiary bronchus.

Question 22

How are the lungs connected to the mediastinum?

Answer 22

The lungs are connected to the mediastinum by the root, which consists of structures entering and exiting the hilum of the lung.

Question 23

What is the hilum of the lung?

Answer 23

The hilum of the lung is a wedge-shaped depression where structures enter and exit the lung.

Question 24

What structures are part of the root of the lung?

Answer 24

The root of the lung includes the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins (superior and inferior), bronchial artery (2x left, 1x right) and vein, main bronchus, pulmonary plexus, and lymphatic vessels.

Question 25

What structures are associated with the hilum of the lung?

Answer 25

The hilum of the lung includes the pleural sleeve, which is a reflection from the parietal to the visceral pleura surrounding the root of the lung. It also includes the pulmonary ligament, which is the inferior continuation of the pleural sleeve.

Question 26

What is the function of the pulmonary circulation?

Answer 26

The pulmonary circulation supplies the lung parenchyma and is involved in gas exchange.

Question 27

What is the function of the bronchial circulation?

Answer 27

The bronchial circulation supplies the tracheobronchial tree, the root of the lung, supporting lung tissue, and the visceral pleura.

Question 28

How does the pulmonary circulation differ from the systemic circulation?

Answer 28

The pulmonary circulation is the reverse of the systemic circulation as it is responsible for oxygenation instead of oxygen delivery.

Question 29

What are the components of the pulmonary circulation?

Answer 29

The pulmonary circulation includes the pulmonary arteries (right and left) and the pulmonary veins (right superior and inferior, left superior and inferior).

Question 30

What are the components of the bronchial circulation?

Answer 30

The bronchial circulation consists of the bronchial arteries (2x left, 1x right) and the bronchial veins (right and left).

Question 31

What nerves provide sensory innervation to the parietal pleura?

Answer 31

The sensory innervation to the parietal pleura is provided by the phrenic nerve (C3-5) and intercostal nerves.

Question 32

What nerves provide sensory innervation to the visceral pleura?

Answer 32

The sensory innervation to the visceral pleura is provided by the sympathetic trunk (T2-6).

Question 33

What are the sensory innervation and autonomic control of the lungs?

Answer 33

The lungs receive sensory innervation through visceral afferents and autonomic control through the pulmonary plexus.

Sensory innervation: Vagus nerve (CN X).
Autonomic control:
Sympathetic nervous system (SNS): Sympathetic trunk (T2-6).
Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS): Vagus nerve (CN X).

Question 34

Where is pain from the parietal pleura referred to?

Answer 34

Pain from the parietal pleura is referred to the dermatomes C3-5, which includes the cervical and shoulder regions.