Which membrane encases the lungs themselves and reflects off the lung surfaces to be continuous with the parietal pleura?

• A. Parietal pleura
• B. Visceral pleura
• C. Peritoneum
• D. Dura mater

Answer: (B)

Lungs are covered by a serous membrane that sits directly on their surface and folds back to become the lining of the chest wall. This membrane is the visceral pleura. It adheres tightly to the lung tissue and, at the lung’s roots, reflects to form the parietal pleura that lines the inner thoracic wall, diaphragm, and mediastinum. The space between these layers—the pleural cavity—contains a small amount of fluid to allow smooth movement during breathing. The other options don’t encase the lungs: the parietal pleura lines the chest wall; the peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity; the dura mater is a protective covering of the brain and spinal cord.