EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The parietal pleura lines the thoracic wall and superior surface of the diaphragm. It continues around the heart forming the lateral walls of the mediastinum. The pleura extends over the surface of the lungs as the visceral pleura. The surface tension of the fluid in the pleural cavity secures the pleura together.

Detailed explanation-2: -The outer surfaces of the lungs are covered with a membrane called the pleura.

Detailed explanation-3: -The visceral pleura covers the surface of the lungs, and the parietal pleura covers the inside of the thorax, mediastinum, and diaphragm. A thin film of serous fluid fills the space between the two pleurae.

Detailed explanation-4: -The parietal pleura plays the major role in the formation and removal of pleural fluid. Direct communications, known as stomata, exist between the pleural space and the underlying lymphatic network, allowing removal of large particles from the pleural space.

Detailed explanation-5: -The parietal pleura consists of a single layer of flat, cuboidal mesothelial cells, 1 to 4 m thick, supported by loose connective tissue. Blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels invest the connective tissue. The arterial supply is derived from the intercostal and internal mammary arteries.