The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The pleura are the thin, double-layered, moist membranes that line the chest wall and cover the lungs.
Parietal pleura, the pleurae lining the chest, doubles back over at the root of the lung where it becomes known as the visceral pleura. The two membranes are really one continuous sheet of tissue. They enclose the narrow pleural cavity, a thin, slit-like space containing a friction-reducing fluid that lubricates the membranes and aides breathing. In normal health, this cavity or "pleural space" goes unnoticed. The cavity becomes apparent, however, when a lung collapses or air or liquid collects between membranes.
The parietal and visceral pleurae enclose each lung in a different sac. The parietal pleurae consist of one elastic layer and rest on the fibrocollagenous tissue attached to the ribs. Parietal pleurae are divided into four categories: costal, diaphragmatic, mediastinal, and cervical. They are all supplied by intercostal and phrenic nerves that allow this type of pleura to sense pain. The visceral pleura are made up of five elastic layers, one of which is irregular. Visceral pleura help form pulmonary ligaments and connect to the autonomic nerves.
Diseases of the pleura include pleurisy and pleural effusion. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura characterized by a sharp, stabbing chest pain that becomes worse with deep breathing or coughing. Excess liquid in the pleural space results in pleural effusion, and can be the result of disease or trauma. Tumors of the pleura (mesothelioma) are seen most frequently in asbestos workers.