pleurat

Pleura, in human anatomy, is a pair of serous membranes that envelop the lungs and line the thoracic cavity. In English, the two layers are the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs, and the parietal pleura, which lines the chest wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm. The pleural cavity lies between them and normally contains a small amount of pleural fluid that lubricates movement during respiration. In some contexts, pleurat is used as the plural term.

Structure: The visceral pleura is tightly adherent to the lung surface; the parietal pleura is subdivided into costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and cervical portions. The pleural space contains pleural fluid produced by the pleura and resorbed by lymphatics.

Function: It creates a frictionless surface and helps maintain negative intrapleural pressure, aiding lung expansion during inspiration.

Innervation and blood supply: Visceral pleura receives autonomic innervation and vascular supply from bronchial arteries; parietal pleura is innervated by intercostal and phrenic nerves and supplied by intercostal and internal thoracic arteries.

Development: The pleura arise from mesoderm during embryologic development.

Clinical significance: Problems include pleural effusion (fluid accumulation), pleuritis (inflammation causing chest pain), pneumothorax (air in the pleural space), and hemothorax. Malignant pleural disease such as mesothelioma can involve the pleura.

Diagnosis and treatment: Imaging (chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT) helps detect abnormalities. Thoracentesis obtains pleural fluid for analysis. Treatment targets the cause and may include drainage of fluid, antibiotics for infection, analgesia, diuretics for effusions due to heart failure, a chest tube for pneumothorax, or procedures like pleurodesis to prevent recurrence.