- Pleura: serous membrane forming a closed sac around each lung, two continuous layers separated by the potential pleural cavity:
- visceral pleura (invests the lung)
- parietal pleura (lines the thoracic cavity)
- The pleural cavity is normally filled with a thin film of serous fluid that lubricates the two layers, letting them move without friction during respiration.
Layers of the Pleura
Differences between parietal and visceral pleura
Point
Develops from
- Parietal pleura
- Somatopleuric mesoderm
- Visceral pleura
- Splanchnopleuric mesoderm
Lines/covers
- Parietal pleura
- Thoracic wall, diaphragm, mediastinum
- Visceral pleura
- Surface of the lung
Nerve supply
- Parietal pleura
- Somatic nerves
- Visceral pleura
- Autonomic (sympathetic) nerves
Pain sensation
- Parietal pleura
- Sensitive
- Visceral pleura
- Insensitive
Blood and lymphatic supply
- Parietal pleura
- Same as the thoracic wall
- Visceral pleura
- Same as the lung