pleura

Examples of pleura in the following topics:

• Intercostal Nerves

  • The intercostal nerves are distributed chiefly to the thoracic pleura and abdominal peritoneum and differ from the anterior divisions of the other spinal nerves in that each pursues an independent course without plexus formation.
  • Unlike the nerves from the autonomic nervous system that innervate the visceral pleura of the thoracic cavity, the intercostal nerves arise from the somatic nervous system.
  • This enables them to control the contraction of muscles, as well as provide specific sensory information regarding the skin and parietal pleura.
  • Damage to the visceral pleura is experienced as an unlocalized ache.

• Lungs

  • The outer layer of the lungs are the pleura, a type of mesothelium (membrane tissue) that surrounds the lung and attaches it to the thoracic cavity.
  • The pleura contain two layers, the outer parietal pleura (attached to the thoracic cavity), and the inner visceral pleura (covers the lungs).
  • The pleural cavity is the fluid-filled space between the parietal and visceral pleura, and provides room for the lung to expand during inhalation.

• Pericardium

  • The pericardium is one of the mesothelium tissues of the thoracic cavity, along with the pleura which cover the lungs.
  • The pleural and pericardial cavities are exaggerated since normally there is no space between parietal and visceral pleura and between pericardium and heart.

• Injuries to the Phrenic Nerves

  • In the thorax, each phrenic nerve supplies the mediastinal pleura and pericardium.

• Ascending Aorta

  • The ascending aorta is covered at its beginning by the trunk of the pulmonary artery and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus.

• Thoracic Aorta

  • The thoracic aorta's relation, from above downward, is as follows: anteriorly with the root of the left lung, the pericardium, the esophagus and the diaphragm; posteriorly with the vertebral column; on the right side with the hemiazygos veins and thoracic duct; and on the left side with the left pleura and lung.

• Lobes, Fissures, and Lobules

  • Fissures are double folds of pleura that divide the lung into lobes.
  • These structures are enclosed by pleura.

• Serous Membranes

  • The pleural and pericardial cavities are exaggerated since normally there is no space between parietal and visceral pleura and between pericardium and heart.

• Autonomic Plexuses

  • It supplies the Bronchial tree and the visceral pleura.

• Body Cavities

  • The thoracic cavity is lined by two types of mesothelium, a type of membrane tissue that lines the ventral cavity: the pleura lining of the lungs, and the pericadium lining of the heart.