ANA 407 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Costodiaphragmatic Recess, Suprasternal Notch, Thoracic Wall

• School: University at Buffalo
• Department: Anatomical Sciences
• Course: ANA 407
• Professor: Karnes

Document Summary

In the adult, the pleural cavity is small, having been nearly obliterated by the lung that expanded into it during development. The pleural cavity is the space between the visceral pleura, which is tightly applied to the lung itself, and the parietal pleura, which is applied to the inner aspect of the body wall. The parietal pleura is subdivided according to the areas it covers, i. e. , costal, mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and the pleural cupula (aka part of the costodiaphragmatic recess is not invaded by the lungs. The blood supply to the costal pleura is via segmental vessels of the thoracic wall (intercostal aa. ), whereas the visceral pleura is supplied by the bronchial aa. which branch from the aorta [or. 3rd intercostal a. on right side], and also supply lung tissue. The visceral pleura is not sensitive to sharp (somatic) pain, but the parietal pleura is very sensitive. Pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural cavity.