Question

Due to the negative intrapleural pressure, the pleural sac must remain airtight. If the pleural sac were broken, as in a piercing wound, which of the following would happen?

A. The lungs would expand outward.
B. The lungs would burst.
C. The lungs would collapse.
D. The lungs would remain the same.

Answer 1

A puncture to the thoracic cavity can cause the lungs to collapse due to the loss of negative intrapleural pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

A puncture to the thoracic cavity, such as from a knife wound, can alter the ability to inhale. The reason for this is the negative intrapleural pressure that exists within the pleural sac. This negative pressure is necessary to keep the lungs inflated. If the pleural sac is broken, the negative pressure is lost, and the lungs can collapse.