Identify the membrane that encases the lungs.

Identify the membrane that encases the lungs.

• A. Pleura
• B. Peritoneum
• C. Meninges
• D. Pericardium

Answer: (A)

The lungs are surrounded by a serous membrane called the pleura. It has two layers: the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs themselves, and the parietal pleura, which lines the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm. The space between these layers, the pleural cavity, contains a small amount of pleural fluid that reduces friction as the lungs expand and contract. This setup helps keep the lungs expanded by maintaining a slight negative pressure in the pleural space. Other membranes exist for different organs—like the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity, the meninges around the brain and spinal cord, and the pericardium around the heart.

The lungs are surrounded by a serous membrane called the pleura. It has two layers: the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs themselves, and the parietal pleura, which lines the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm. The space between these layers, the pleural cavity, contains a small amount of pleural fluid that reduces friction as the lungs expand and contract. This setup helps keep the lungs expanded by maintaining a slight negative pressure in the pleural space. Other membranes exist for different organs—like the peritoneum in the abdominal cavity, the meninges around the brain and spinal cord, and the pericardium around the heart.