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Review
. 2015 Feb;7(Suppl 1):S27-32.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.01.48.

Pleura space anatomy

Charalampos Charalampidis  1 , Andrianna Youroukou  1 , George Lazaridis  1 , Sofia Baka  1 , Ioannis Mpoukovinas  1 , Vasilis Karavasilis  1 , Ioannis Kioumis  1 , Georgia Pitsiou  1 , Antonis Papaiwannou  1 , Anastasia Karavergou  1 , Kosmas Tsakiridis  1 , Nikolaos Katsikogiannis  1 , Eirini Sarika  1 , Konstantinos Kapanidis  1 , Leonidas Sakkas  1 , Ipokratis Korantzis  1 , Sofia Lampaki  1 , Konstantinos Zarogoulidis  1 , Paul Zarogoulidis  1
Affiliations
Review

Pleura space anatomy

Charalampos Charalampidis et al. J Thorac Dis. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

The pleural cavity is the potential space between the two pleurae (visceral and parietal) of the lungs. The pleurae are serous membranes which fold back onto themselves to form a two-layered membranous structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity and normally contains a small amount of pleural fluid. There are two layers; the outer pleura (parietal pleura) is attached to the chest wall and the inner pleura (visceral pleura) covers the lungs and adjoining structures, via blood vessels, bronchi and nerves. The parietal pleurae are highly sensitive to pain, while the visceral pleura are not, due to its lack of sensory innervation. In the current review we will present the anatomy of the pleural space.

Keywords: Pneumothorax; anatomy; pleural space.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anatomy of the respiratory system.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Anatomy of the respiratory system within the thorax region.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Anatomy of the pleura cavity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Two pleural layers continue with each other at root of the lung forming a closed potential cavity: pleural cavity.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Anatomy of the pleura cavity (mechanism detail).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Anatomy of the pleura cavity (muscles).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Anatomy of the pleura cavity (pleural layers).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Anatomy of the pleura cavity (respiratory system).
Figure 9
Figure 9
The parietal pleura lines the thoracic wall and superior surface of the diaphragm. It continues around the heart forming the lateral walls of the mediastinum. The pleura extends over the surface of the lungs as the visceral pleura. The surface tension of the fluid in the pleural cavity secures the pleura together. They can slide from side to side but it is hard to separate them.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Anatomy of pleural cavity-pleural recesses.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Types of pneumothorax.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Pneumothorax.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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