Summary of pleura

pleura

Pleura, plural

Pleurae , singular

Origin of word : Greek   [Gr.]

The serous membrane investing the lungs (visceral p.) and lining the walls of the thoracic cavity (parietal p.); the two layers enclose a potential space, the pleural cavity. The two pleurae, right and left, are entirely distinct from each other.pleu´ral cavity .

The glistening surface of the pleura is made up of a sheet of flat cells, the mesothelium, which covers an underlying layer of loose elastic tissue. The pleura exudes a thin fluid that keeps it moist and lubricated.

Major disorders of the pleura include pleurisy, the inflammation of the pleura; pleural effusion, the accumulation of excess fluid between the visceral and parietal pleurae; empyema, the collection of pus in the pleural space; mesothelioma and other tumours of the pleura; chylothorax, the rupture of the thoratic duct; hemothorax, the accumulation of blood in the pleural space; and fibrothorax, the encasement of the lung in fibrin following a severe pleural inflammatory process such as empyema.

Normally, there is no air in the pleural space and, if air should enter, perhaps as the result of a stab wound or a diseased lung, the increase in pressure causes the lung to collapse. Air in the pleural space is known as pneumothorax. If the pleural space becomes continuous with the air outside, after a piercing injury for example, this is called an open pneumothorax.

Pleura: /pleu·ra/ (ploor´ah) pl. pleu´rae   [Gr.] the serous membrane investing the lungs (visceral p.) and lining the walls of the thoracic cavity (parietal p.); the two layers enclose a potential space, the pleural cavity. The two pleurae, right and left, are entirely distinct from each other.pleu´ral cavity .

 

Parietal pleura : it is the outer part of serous sac which lines the thoracic wall and mediastinum.

It develops from somatopleuric layter of lateral plate mesoderm .Innervated by somatic nerves

It is sensitive to pain

Blood supply and lymphatic draianage is same as that of thoracic wall 

Visceral pleura

Lines the surfeces of lung except hilum.  It develops from splanchnopleuric layter 

of lateral plate mesoderm. Innervated by autonomic nerves

It is insensitive to pain. It  is only sensitive to stretch.

Blood supply and lymphatic drainage is same as that of the lung