What are the two pleural layers and the potential space between them?

• A. Visceral pleura covering the lung; parietal pleura lining the chest wall; pleural cavity (potential space) between
• B. Parietal pleura covering the lung; visceral pleura lining the chest wall; pleural cavity between
• C. Pleural cavity between visceral and parietal pleura
• D. Visceral and parietal pleura with no space

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how the lungs are wrapped by two layers of pleura and what sits between them. The lung surface is covered by the visceral pleura, while the chest wall, diaphragm, and mediastinal surfaces are lined by the parietal pleura. The space between these two layers is the pleural cavity, a potential space that normally contains a small amount of lubricating pleural fluid to reduce friction during breathing and to help keep the lung expanded via negative pressure. This description aligns with naming both layers and the space between them: visceral pleura covering the lung, parietal pleura lining the chest wall, with the pleural cavity between. The other options either swap the layer locations, omit naming the layers, or claim there is no space, which doesn’t fit how the pleura functions in respiration.