Pleural space
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Henry Knipe had the following disclosures:
- Micro-X Ltd, Shareholder (past)
These were assessed during peer review and were determined to not be relevant to the changes that were made.
View Henry Knipe's current disclosures- Intrapleural spaces
- Pleural spaces
- Intrapleural space
The pleural or intrapleural space is the fluid-filled space between the parietal and visceral layers of the pleura 2. It contains only a small amount of serous pleural fluid in normal conditions.
Variant anatomy
Rarely, there may be an anomalous communication of the right and left pleural spaces anteriorly (see: buffalo pneumothorax ).
Related pathology
A pleural effusion is the pathological accumulation of pleural fluid, and when infected becomes an empyema.
The pleural space can also be affected by a number of malignancies:
When air leaks into the pleural space, a life threatening pneumothorax may develop.
References
- 1. Kuhlman J & Singha N. Complex Disease of the Pleural Space: Radiographic and CT Evaluation. Radiographics. 1997;17(1):63-79. doi:10.1148/radiographics.17.1.9017800 - Pubmed
- 2. Bankier A, MacMahon H, Colby T et al. Fleischner Society: Glossary of Terms for Thoracic Imaging. Radiology. 2024;310(2):e232558. doi:10.1148/radiol.232558 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
- Pericardial window
- Pleurobiliary fistula
- Pneumothorax
- Pleural adhesions
- Capnothorax
- Parapneumonic effusion
- Intercostal catheter
- Left paramediastinal catheter position (differential)
- Symptomatic pneumothorax (summary)
- Thoracic lymph node stations
- Pleura
- Pleural silicone granuloma
- Buffalo pneumothorax
- Interlobar pneumothorax
- Amoebic hepatic abscess
- Fibrothorax
- Empyema
- Heimlich valve
- Pleurodesis
- Abscess
Related articles: Anatomy: Thoracic
- thoracic skeleton
- thoracic cage
- thoracic spine
- articulations
- muscles of the thorax
- diaphragm
- intercostal space
- intercostal muscles
- variant anatomy
- spaces of the thorax
- thoracic viscera
- lower respiratory tract
-
heart
- cardiac chambers
- heart valves
- cardiac fibrous skeleton
- innervation of the heart
- development of the heart
- cardiac wall
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pericardium
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pericardium
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- breast
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thoracic aorta (development)
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ascending aorta
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aortic root
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coronary arteries
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left main coronary artery (LMCA)
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circumflex artery (LCx)
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aortic root
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