Which cavity contains the lungs?

• A. Mediastinum
• B. Pleural cavities
• C. Pericardial sac
• D. Peritoneal cavity

Answer: (B)

Lungs are housed in the pleural cavities, the two potential spaces between the lungs’ visceral pleura and the inner thoracic wall lined by parietal pleura. Each lung sits within its own pleural cavity, with a small amount of pleural fluid that allows smooth expansion and recoil during breathing. The mediastinum is the central thoracic compartment that contains structures like the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus; the pericardial sac is a component within the mediastinum that encloses the heart. The peritoneal cavity lies in the abdomen, far from the lungs. So the lungs occupy the pleural cavities, not the mediastinum, pericardial sac, or peritoneal cavity.