What is the pleura?

(PLOOR-uh) A thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest cavity. It protects and cushions the lungs. This tissue secretes a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant, allowing the lungs to move smoothly in the chest cavity while breathing.

What are pleural reflections?

There are a number of areas in the thorax where the parietal pleura changes direction as it passes from one surface onto another. These areas are known as pleural reflections. The sternal line of pleural reflection is a sharp turn where the costal pleura becomes the mediastinal pleura anteriorly.

What is chest cavity Class 7?

(3) Our two lungs hang in an airtight space in our body called chest cavity. (4) Around the sides of the chest cavity is the rib cage with sheets of muscles between the ribs. (5)The rib cage encloses the lungs in it.At the bottom of the chest cavity is a curved sheet of muscle called diaphragm .

What are pleura made of?

The pleura consists of a visceral and parietal layer that is composed of a continuous surface epithelium of mesothelial cells and underlying connective tissue. The visceral pleura covers the lungs and interlobar fissures, whereas the parietal pleura lines the ribs, diaphragm, and mediastinum.

Which needle is used for thoracentesis?

Using a 25-gauge needle, place a wheal of local anesthetic over the insertion point. Switch to a larger (20- or 22-gauge) needle and inject anesthetic progressively deeper until reaching the parietal pleura, which should be infiltrated the most because it is very sensitive.

What is Costomediastinal reflection?

Behind the sternum and rib cartilages, where the anterior thin margin of the lung falls short of the line of pleural reflection, and where the slit-like cavity between the two layers of pleura forms what is called the costomediastinal recess (costomediastinal sinus).

What is visceral and parietal?

Structure. Serous membranes have two layers. The parietal layers of the membranes line the walls of the body cavity (pariet- refers to a cavity wall). The visceral layer of the membrane covers the organs (the viscera). Between the parietal and visceral layers is a very thin, fluid-filled serous space, or cavity.

Which anatomical system of an organism introduces respiratory gases to the interior of the body and enables gas exchange?

Animal respiratory systems are designed to facilitate gas exchange. In mammals, air is warmed and humidified in the nasal cavity. Air then travels down the pharynx, through the trachea, and into the lungs.