definição e significado de Pleural_cavity

"Pleura" redirects here. For other uses, see Pleuron (disambiguation).

Pleural cavity

Front view of thorax, showing the relations of the pleuræ and lungs to the chest wall. Pleura in blue; lungs in purple.

A transverse section of the thorax, showing the contents of the middle and the posterior mediastinum. The pleural and pericardial cavities are exaggerated since normally there is no space between parietal and visceral pleura and between pericardium and heart.
Latin	cavum pleurae, cavum pleurale, cavitas pleuralis
Gray's	subject #238 1088
Precursor	intraembryonic coelom
MeSH	Pleural+Cavity
Code	TH H3.05.03.0.00013

In human anatomy, the pleural cavity is the potential space between the two pleura (visceral and parietal) of the lungs. The pleura is a serous membrane which folds back onto itself to form a two-layered, membrane structure. The thin space between the two pleural layers is known as the pleural cavity; 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, viz. blood vessels, bronchi and nerves.

The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain, while the visceral pleura is not, due to its lack of sensory innervation.^[1]

1 Functions
2 Structure
3 Development
4 Pleural fluid
5 See also
6 Additional images
7 References
8 External links

Functions

The pleural cavity, with its associated pleurae, aids optimal functioning of the lungs during respiration. The pleural cavity also contains 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 relationship allows for greater inflation of the alveoli during respiration. The pleural cavity transmits movements of the chest wall to the lungs, particularly during heavy breathing. This occurs because the closely apposed chest wall transmits pressures to the visceral pleural surface and hence to the lung itself.

Structure

In humans, there is no anatomical connection between the left and right pleural cavities. Therefore, in cases of pneumothorax, the other lung will still function normally unless there is a tension pneumothorax or simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, which may collapse the contralateral parenchyma, blood vessels and bronchi.

The visceral pleura receives its blood supply from the bronchial circulation.

Development

Initially the intraembryonic coelom is one continuous space. During development this space partitions to form the pericardial, pleural and peritoneal cavities. The diaphragm and the paired pleuropericardial membranes separate the coelomic cavity into four parts. From the splanchnopleura (the visceral mesodermal layer) develops the Visceral pleura and from the somatopleura (parietal mesodermal layer) develops the parietal pleura.

Pleural fluid

Pleural fluid is a serous fluid produced by the normal pleurae. Most fluid is produced by the parietal circulation (intercostal arteries) via bulk flow and reabsorbed by the lymphatic system. Thus, pleural fluid is produced and reabsorbed continuously. In a normal 70 kg human, a few milliliters of pleural fluid is always present within the intrapleural space.^[2] Larger quantities of fluid can accumulate in the pleural space only when the rate of production exceeds the rate of reabsorption. Normally, the rate of reabsorption increases as a physiological response to accumulating fluid, with the reabsorption rate increasing up to 40 times the normal rate before significant amounts of fluid accumulate within the pleural space. Thus, a profound increase in the production of pleural fluid—or some blocking of the reabsorbing lymphatic system—is required for fluid to accumulate in the pleural space.

Localized pleural fluid effusion noted during pulmonary embolism (PE) results probably from increased capillary permeability due to cytokine or inflammatory mediator release from the platelet-rich thrombi.^[3]

When accumulation of pleural fluid is noted, cytopathologic evaluation of the fluid, as well as clinical microscopy, microbiology, chemical studies, tumor markers, pH determination and other more esoteric tests are required as diagnostic tools for determining the causes of this abnormal accumulation. Even the gross appearance, color, clarity and odor can be useful tools in diagnosis. The presence of heart failure, infection or malignancy within the pleural cavity are the most common causes that can be identified using this approach.^[4]

In spite of all the diagnostic tests available today, many pleural effusions remain idiopathic in origin. This can be quite vexing to the patient, family and physicians involved. If severe symptoms persist, more invasive techniques may be required. In spite of the lack of knowledge of the cause of the effusion, treatment may be required to relieve the most common symptom, dyspnea, as this can be quite disabling. Thoracoscopy has become the mainstay of invasive procedures as closed pleural biopsy has fallen into disuse.

Additional images

Pleura
The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind.

References

^ Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F. (2006). Clinically oriented anatomy (5 ed.). Hagerstown, Maryland: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 132. ISBN 978-0781763035.
^ Widmaier, Eric P.; Raff, Hershel; Strang, Kevin T. (2006). Vander's human physiology : the mechanisms of body function (10 ed.). Boston, Massachusetts: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0072827415.
^ Porcel, J.M.; R.W. Light (2008-07). "Pleural effusions due to pulmonary embolism". Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine 14 (4): 337–42. DOI:10.1097/MCP.0b013e3282fcea3c. PMID 18520269.
^ Shidham, Vinod B.; Atkinson, Barbara F. (2007). Cytopathologic diagnosis of serous fluids (1 ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 978-1416001454.