What is the function of the pleural membranes?

Answer 1

The pleura is a slick, wet, shiny membrane. It is the outer most layer of tissue surrounding the lungs and also the inner most layer of tissue coating the chest wall. The pleura provide well lubricated surfaces of the chest wall and lungs to contact each other with minimal friction during respiration.

Answer 2

The lungs are surrounded by two membranes, the pleurae. The outer pleura is attached to the chest wall and is known as the Parietal pleura; the inner one is attached to the lung and other visceral tissues and is known as the Visceral pleura. In between the two is a thin space known as the pleural cavity or pleural space. It is filled with pleural fluid, a serous fluid produced by the pleura.

The pleural fluid lubricates the pleural surfaces and allows the layers of pleura to slide against each other easily during respiration. It also provides the surface tension that keeps the lung surface in contact with the chest wall. During quiet breathing, the cavity normally experiences a negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) which helps adhere the lungs to the chest wall, so that movements of the chest wall during breathing are coupled closely to movements of the lungs.

The pleural membrane also helps to keep the two lungs away from each other and air tight, thus if one lung is punctured and collapses due to an accident, the other pleural cavity will still be air tight, and the other lung will work normally

The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain; the visceral pleura is not. The visceral pleura has a dual blood supply, from the bronchial and pulmonary arteries. In humans, there is no anatomical connection between the left and right pleural cavities, so in cases of pneumothorax (see below), the other hemithorax will still be able to function normally.

You could get more information from the link below...

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleural_mem…

The lungs are surrounded by two membranes, the pleurae. The outer pleura is attached to the chest wall and is known as the Parietal pleura; the inner one is attached to the lung and other visceral tissues and is known as the Visceral pleura. In between the two is a thin space known as the pleural cavity or pleural space. It is filled with pleural fluid, a serous fluid produced by the pleura.

The pleural fluid lubricates the pleural surfaces and allows the layers of pleura to slide against each other easily during respiration. It also provides the surface tension that keeps the lung surface in contact with the chest wall. During quiet breathing, the cavity normally experiences a negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) which helps adhere the lungs to the chest wall, so that movements of the chest wall during breathing are coupled closely to movements of the lungs.

The pleural membrane also helps to keep the two lungs away from each other and air tight, thus if one lung is punctured and collapses due to an accident, the other pleural cavity will still be air tight, and the other lung will work normally

The parietal pleura is highly sensitive to pain; the visceral pleura is not. The visceral pleura has a dual blood supply, from the bronchial and pulmonary arteries. In humans, there is no anatomical connection between the left and right pleural cavities, so in cases of pneumothorax (see below), the other hemithorax will still be able to function normally.

You could get more information from the link below...

Source(s):http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleural_mem…
You have two layers of pleural membrane. One is visceral layer layer and another is parietal layer. They are connected to each other. Actually in case of pleural cavity, you have a single balloon, in which your lung is invaginated. So each pleural cavity is deflated balloon. Pleural cavity has got a negative pressure. So it keeps your lung inflated. If you puncture the parietal pleura, in say 11th intercostal space (a space between 10th and 11th rib) on posterior side, the air will enter in the pleural space. The lung will collapse to very small ball. Second function of the pleura is to give lubrication to lungs. Pleural cavity contains little fluid in it. So your respiration (inspiration and expiration) becomes frictionless.

Answer 3

The pleural membrane lines the lungs. It is a thin visceral layer that has some fluid between the layer and the lungs. If there is no fluid in this layer, and the layer becomes dry there is a condition called pleurisy which can happen as a result of friction produced.

Answer 4

The parietal pleura lines the thoracic wal, covers the thoracic surface of the diaphragm and the lateral aspect of the mediastinum, and extends into the root of the neck to line the undersurface of the suprapleural membrane at the thoracic outlet.

Together with the visceral pleura, the space in between them is called the pleural cavity. The cavity contains pleuralfluidthat help in lubricating the lungs as we breathe. The pleural cavity also has a negative pressure. This helps keep the lungs expanded preventing collapse as it "pulls" the lungs toward the chest wall.

Answer 5

The pleural membrane is a membrane covering the lungs in the chest. The trachea does not have a pleural membrane. In the lungs it produces a serous fluid which tends to lubricate the lungs during movement when it expands on breathing

Answer 6

The visceral pleura is one of the membranes that make up the parietal pleura. It produces a serous liquid that helps the lungs glide smoothly against each other during respiration.

Answer 7

Lining the and separating the lungs