Which of the following organs is covered by the pleura, a connective tissue sheath?

Rationale

The lungs are covered by the pleura, a connective tissue sheath.

The pleura is a serous membrane that folds back onto itself to form a two-layered, membranous pleural sac. The outer layer, the parietal pleura, is attached to the chest wall. The inner layer, the visceral pleura, covers the lungs. The thin space between the two layers is the pleural cavity, which contains a small amount of fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces.

A (spleen) YOUR ANSWER

The spleen is not covered by the pleura. It is located in the upper left part of the abdomen, not in the thoracic cavity where the pleura is located. Instead, the spleen is surrounded by a capsule of dense connective tissue.

B (lungs) CORRECT

The lungs are indeed covered by the pleura. The visceral pleura adheres tightly to the surface of the lungs, following into their fissures. The parietal pleura lines the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm. The pleural cavity between these two layers contains pleural fluid that reduces friction, allowing the lungs to expand and contract smoothly during respiration.

C (heart) YOUR ANSWER

The heart is not covered by the pleura. It is enclosed in a double-walled sac called the pericardium, which is located in the middle mediastinum, a region within the thoracic cavity. The pericardium, not the pleura, is the connective tissue sheath that covers the heart.

D (liver) YOUR ANSWER

The liver is not covered by the pleura. It is a large organ located in the upper right part of the abdomen, below the diaphragm. The liver is enclosed in a fibrous capsule, known as Glisson's capsule, which is covered by a layer of peritoneum, not pleura.

Conclusion

The pleura is a connective tissue sheath that covers the lungs. It consists of two layers, the visceral pleura which adheres to the surface of the lungs, and the parietal pleura which lines the inside of the chest wall and diaphragm. The other organs listed - the spleen, the heart, and the liver - are not covered by the pleura, but have their own specific coverings and are located in different regions of the body.

Which of the following organs is covered by the pleura, a connective tissue sheath?

The lungs are covered by the pleura, a connective tissue sheath.

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