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pleura
pleura , membranous lining of the upper body cavity and covering for the lungs . The pleura is a two-layered structure: the parietal pleura lines the walls of the chest cage and covers the upper surface of the diaphragm, and the pulmonary pleura, or visceral layer, tightly covers the surface of the lungs. The two layers, which are in fact one continuous sheet of tissue, are generally connected to each other. In humans, the pleural cavity is further separated into left and right sides by the heart and pericardial cavity. There is normally a slight amount of watery fluid within the pleural cavity that lubricates the pleural surfaces and allows the lungs to slide freely over the inner surface of the thoracic wall during breathing. When a lung collapses or develops an infection, a condition known as pleurisy can develop. The pleura becomes inflamed, and the pleural cavity becomes noticeably larger. Pleurisy can be extremely painful, but can be medically eradicated in many cases. Mesothelioma is a tumor of the pleura seen most frequently in asbestos workers. |
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"pleura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pleura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pleura.html "pleura." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura A thin membrane which lines the inside of the chest cavity and also covers the lungs. The two ‘pleural cavities’ are enclosed compartments, with normally only a film of fluid between the layer lining the chest (parietal pleura) and the layer covering the lungs (visceral pleura). The two layers continually tend to pull away from each other, because of the stretched elastic condition of the lungs — an important factor in the mechanics of breathing. If the chest wall is penetrated by a wound, air is readily sucked into the pleural cavity, separating the two pleural layers and collapsing the lung.
Stuart Judge See breathing; lungs. |
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COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "pleura." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "pleura." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-pleura.html COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "pleura." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura (anat.) membrane lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs. XVII. — medL. — Gr. pleurā́ side, rib.
So pleurisy inflammation of the pleura. XIV. — OF. pleurise (mod pleurésie) — late L. pleuriris, for earlier pleurītis — Gr. pleurîtis pleuritic XVI. — (O)F pleurétique — L. pleurīticus — Gr. pleurītikós, pleuro- comb. form of Gr. pleurā́. |
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T. F. HOAD. "pleura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "pleura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pleura.html T. F. HOAD. "pleura." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleu·ra1 / ˈploŏrə/ • n. (pl. pleu·rae / ˈploŏrē/ ) 1. each of a pair of serous membranes lining the thorax and enveloping the lungs in humans and other mammals. 2. Zool. a lateral part in an animal body or structure. Compare with pleuron. DERIVATIVES: pleu·ral adj. pleu·ra2 / ˈploŏrə/ • plural form of pleuron. |
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"pleura." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pleura." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pleura.html "pleura." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura (ploor-ă) n. the covering of the lungs (visceral p.) and of the inner surface of the chest wall (parietal p.), consisting of a closed sac of serous membrane. Fluid secreted by the membrane lubricates the opposing surfaces so that they can slide painlessly over each other during breathing.
—pleural adj. |
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"pleura." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pleura." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pleura.html "pleura." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura Double membrane that lines the space between the lungs and the walls of the chest. The fluid between the pleura lubricates the two surfaces to prevent friction during breathing movements. Inflammation of the pleura is called pleurisy.
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"pleura." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pleura." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-pleura.html "pleura." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura (pleural membrane) The double membrane that lines the thoracic cavity and covers the exterior surface of the lungs. It is a serous membrane forming a closed sac, with a small space (the pleural cavity) between the two layers.
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"pleura." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "pleura." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-pleura.html "pleura." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-pleura.html |
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pleura
pleura See PLEURON.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pleura." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pleura." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pleura.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "pleura." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-pleura.html |
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