Define pleurisy.

Prepare for your Anatomy and Physiology II Exam with our comprehensive exam resources. Utilize flashcards, multiple choice questions with hints, and detailed explanations. Boost your readiness for success!

Multiple Choice

Define pleurisy.

Explanation:
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the two membranes surrounding the lungs, which causes the inflamed surfaces to rub together as you breathe. That friction produces sharp chest pain that worsens with deep breaths, coughing, or movement. The choice describing pain and pleural inflammation from increased friction between the pleural surfaces best captures this idea. Edema of the lungs refers to fluid buildup in the lung tissues or air spaces (pulmonary edema), not inflammation of the pleural membranes. An infection of the pleural space (empyema) is specifically an infectious collection in the pleural space, which is a different scenario from pleural inflammation alone. A tear in the pleural membrane would cause air to enter the pleural space and lead to a pneumothorax, not pleural inflammation.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the two membranes surrounding the lungs, which causes the inflamed surfaces to rub together as you breathe. That friction produces sharp chest pain that worsens with deep breaths, coughing, or movement. The choice describing pain and pleural inflammation from increased friction between the pleural surfaces best captures this idea.

Edema of the lungs refers to fluid buildup in the lung tissues or air spaces (pulmonary edema), not inflammation of the pleural membranes. An infection of the pleural space (empyema) is specifically an infectious collection in the pleural space, which is a different scenario from pleural inflammation alone. A tear in the pleural membrane would cause air to enter the pleural space and lead to a pneumothorax, not pleural inflammation.

More practice questions