Lung Health The Anatomy of the Pleura By Lynne Eldridge, MD facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Lynne Eldridge, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on April 13, 2020 Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD on April 13, 2020 Print The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory tract whose role it is to cushion the lungs and reduce any friction which may develop between the lungs, rib cage, and chest cavity. The pleura consists of a two-layered membrane that covers each lung. The layers are separated by a small amount of viscous lubricant known as pleural fluid. OpenStax College / Wikimedia Creative Commons There are a number of medical conditions that can affect the pleura, including pleural effusions, a collapsed lung, and cancer. When excess fluid accumulates between the pleural membranes, various procedures may be used to either drain the fluid or eliminate the space between the membranes. The plural form of pleura is pleurae. Anatomy There are two pleurae, one for each lung, and each pleura is a single membrane that folds back on itself to form two layers. The space between the membranes (called the pleural cavity) is filled with a thin, lubricating liquid (called pleural fluid). The pleura is comprised of two distinct layers: The visceral pleura is the thin, slippery membrane that covers the surface of the lungs and dips into the areas separating the different lobes of the lungs (called the hilum).The parietal pleura is the outer membrane that lines the inner chest wall and diaphragm (the muscle separating the chest and abdominal cavities). The visceral and parietal pleura join at the hilum, which also serves as the point of entry for the bronchus, blood vessels, and nerves. The pleural cavity, also known as the intrapleural space, contains pleural fluid secreted by the mesothelial cells. The fluid allows the layers to glide over each other as the lungs inflate and deflate during respiration. Function The structure of the pleura is essential to respiration, providing the lungs with the lubrication and cushioning needed to inhale and exhale. The intrapleural space contains roughly 4 cubic centimeters (ccs) to 5 ccs of pleural fluid which reduces friction whenever the lungs expand or contract. The pleura fluid itself has a slightly adhesive quality that helps draw the lungs outward during inhalation rather than slipping round in the chest cavity. In addition, pleural fluid creates surface tension that helps maintain the position of the lungs against the chest wall. The pleurae also serve as a division between other organs in the body, preventing them from interfering with lung function and vice versa. Because the pleura is self-contained, it can help prevent the spread of infection to and from the lungs. Associated Conditions A number of conditions can cause injury to the pleura or undermine its function. Harm to the membranes or overload of pleural fluid can affect how you breathe and lead to adverse respiratory symptoms. Pleurisy Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleural membranes. It is most commonly caused by a viral infection but may also be the result of a bacterial infection or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Pleuritic inflammation causes the membrane surfaces to become rough and sticky. Rather than sliding over each other, they membranes stick together, triggering sharp, stabbing pain with every breath, sneeze, or cough. The pain can get worse when inhaling cold air or taking a deep breath. It can also worsen during movement or shifts in position. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and loss of appetite. When to See a Doctor About Deep Breathing Pain Pleural Effusion A pleural effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space. When this happens, breathing can be impaired, sometimes significantly. Congestive heart failure is the most common cause of a pleural effusion, but there is a multitude of other causes, including lung trauma or lung cancer (in which effusion is experienced in roughly half of all cases). A pleural effusion can be very small (detectable only by a chest X-ray or CT scan) or be large and contain several pints of fluid. Common symptoms include chest pain, dry cough, shortness of breath, difficulty taking deep breaths, and persistent hiccups. Common Disorders of the Pleural Fluid Malignant Pleural Effusion A malignant pleural effusion refers to an effusion that contains cancer cells. It's most commonly associated with lung cancer or breast cancer that has metastasized (spread) to the lungs. Mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura that most often is caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. Symptoms include pain in the shoulder, chest or lower back, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the face and arms. Functions of the Mesothelium Pneumothorax Pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, can develop when air collects in the pleural cavity. It may be caused by any number of things, including chest trauma, chest surgery, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to shortness of breath, there may be crepitus, an abnormal crackling sound from just under the skin of the neck and chest. Spontaneous pneumothorax is a term used to describe when a lung collapses for no apparent reason. Tall, thin adolescent males are at greatest risk, although females can also be affected. Risk factors include smoking, connective tissue disorders, and activities such as scuba diving and flying in which atmospheric pressure changes rapidly. Pneumothorax can often heal on its own but may sometimes require thoracentesis to extract any accumulated air from the pleural cavity. Hemothorax Hemothorax is a condition in which the pleural cavity fills with blood, typically as a result of traumatic injury or chest surgery; rarely, a hemothorax can happen spontaneously due to a vascular rupture. The main symptom of hemothorax is pain or a feeling of heaviness in the chest. Others include a rapid heartbeat, trouble breathing, cold sweats, pale skin, and a fever,all indications that prompt medical attention is needed. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Charalampidis C, Youroukou A, Lazaridis G, et al. Pleura space anatomy. J Thorac Dis. 2015;7(Suppl 1):S27–S32. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.01.48 Kass SM, Williams PM, Reamy BV. Pleurisy. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75(9):1357-64. Bintcliffe OJ, Lee GY, Rahman NM, Maskell NA. The management of benign non-infective pleural effusions. Eur Respir Rev. 2016;25(141):303-16. doi:10.1183/16000617.0026-2016 Karkhanis VS, Joshi JM. Pleural effusion: diagnosis, treatment, and management. Open Access Emerg Med. 2012;4:31–52. doi:10.2147/OAEM.S29942 Dixit R, Agarwal KC, Gokhroo A, et al. Diagnosis and management options in malignant pleural effusions. Lung India. 2017;34(2):160-6. doi:10.4103/0970-2113.201305 Rossini M, Rizzo P, Bononi I, et al. New perspectives on diagnosis and therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Front Oncol. 2018;8:91. doi:10.3389/fonc.2018.00091 Aghajanzadeh M, Dehnadi A, Ebrahimi H, et al. Classification and management of subcutaneous emphysema: a 10-year experience. Indian J Surg. 2015;77(Suppl 2):673–677. doi:10.1007/s12262-013-0975-4 Mitani A, Hakamata Y, Hosoi M, et al. The incidence and risk factors of asymptomatic primary spontaneous pneumothorax detected during health check-ups. BMC Pulm Med. 2017;17:177. doi:10.1186/s12890-017-0538-8 Pumarejo Gomez L, Tran VH. Hemothorax. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Updated 21 Nov 2019. Additional Reading Batra H, Antony VB. Pleural mesothelial cells in pleural and lung diseases. J Thoracic Dis. 2015;7(6):964-80. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2015.02.19 Bertin F, Deslauriers J. Anatomy of the pleura: reflection lines and recesses. Thoracic Surg Clinics. 2011;21(2):165-71. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2010.12.002