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( Pleura)
In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the body cavity that surrounds the lungs. The lungs are not within the pleural cavity; the cavity is the space between the visceral and parietal layers of pleura. The lungs are surrounded by the pleurae, a serous membrane which folds back upon itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural space; it normally contains a small amount of pleural fluid. The outer pleura (parietal pleura) is attached to the chest wall. The inner pleura (visceral pleura) covers the lungs and adjoining structures, i.e. blood vessels, bronchi and nerves. The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain; the visceral pleura is not due to its lack of sensory innervation.[1] The pleural cavity, with its associated pleurae, aids optimal functioning of the lungs during respiration. The pleurae are coated with lubricating pleural fluid which allows the pleurae to slide effortlessly against each other during ventilation. Surface tension of the pleural fluid also leads to close apposition of the lung surfaces with the chest wall. This physical relationship allows for optimal inflation of the alveoli during respiration. Movements of the chest wall, particularly during heavy breathing, are coupled to movements of the lungs since the closely opposed chest wall transmits pressures to the visceral pleural surface and, hence, to the lung itself. Pleural fluid is a serous fluid produced by the pleurae. A normal 70 kg human has a few milliliters of intrapleural fluid[2].
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