noun
- Plural of pleura; the thin membranes that line the chest cavity and cover the lungs.
Usage: Medical/anatomical term; Always used in plural form in most contexts
Examples
- The pleurae are composed of two layers: the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura.
- Inflammation of the pleurae is called pleurisy.
- The pleurae secrete a small amount of fluid that allows the lungs to move smoothly during breathing.
- Doctors examined the pleurae during the thoracic surgery.
- The pleurae help protect the lungs and facilitate their expansion and contraction.