pleural

(Anat.) Of or pertaining to the pleura or pleuræ, or to the sides of the thorax.

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Emanating from or pertaining to the pleura.

• p. effusion — accumulation of fluid in the space between the membrane encasing the lung and that lining the thoracic cavity. The normal pleural space contains only a small amount of fluid to prevent friction as the lung expands and deflates. If, however, there is a disturbance in either the production of this fluid or its removal, the fluid accumulates and threatens collapse of the lung. In extreme cases there is total collapse of the lung and mediastinal shift.
• p. friction rub — the abrasive sound made by the rubbing together of two acutely inflamed serous surfaces, as in acute pleurisy. Later separation of the surfaces by accumulated exudate marks the disappearance of the rub. The sound is synchronous with the respiratory movements.
• p. gas — may be produced by gas-forming bacteria or be caused by leakage from thoracentesis or lesions of the airways.
• p. hemorrhage — see hemothorax.
• p. infection — see pyothorax.
• p. inflammation — see pleuritis.
• p. paracentesis — see thoracentesis.
• p. peel — heavy fibrinous deposits on the pleura.
• p. stripping — 1. removal of the pleura at an abattoir when the tissue is discolored or superficially diseased and the remainder of the carcass is suitable for human consumption.
— 2. surgical removal of excessive pleural fibrin deposits via thoracotomy.