Prepare for the Marieb Language of Anatomy Exam. Utilize multiple choice questions, flashcards, and explanations for each answer. Ace your exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

Which layer lines the thoracic cavity?

The walls of the thoracic cavity are lined by the parietal pleura. This serous membrane forms the outer layer that adheres to the inner chest wall, the diaphragm, and the mediastinum. The lungs themselves are covered by the visceral pleura, with a pleural cavity between the two layers that contains fluid to reduce friction during breathing. The parietal pericardium lines the pericardial sac around the heart (within the thorax) but does not line the entire thoracic cavity, and the parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity, not the thorax. So, the layer that lines the thoracic cavity is the parietal pleura.

The walls of the thoracic cavity are lined by the parietal pleura. This serous membrane forms the outer layer that adheres to the inner chest wall, the diaphragm, and the mediastinum. The lungs themselves are covered by the visceral pleura, with a pleural cavity between the two layers that contains fluid to reduce friction during breathing. The parietal pericardium lines the pericardial sac around the heart (within the thorax) but does not line the entire thoracic cavity, and the parietal peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity, not the thorax. So, the layer that lines the thoracic cavity is the parietal pleura.