A thin, double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity, creating a sealed space that allows the lungs to expand and contract smoothly during breathing.
From Greek 'pleura' meaning side or rib, originally referring to the side of the body. The anatomical usage developed as physicians studied the membrane's location along the chest wall.
The pleural space is like a perfectly lubricated sliding system with just 10-20ml of fluid! When this space fills with air (pneumothorax) or excess fluid (pleural effusion), your lung can collapse faster than a deflating balloon.
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