Final answer:
The parietal pleura is the outer layer of the pleura that connects to the thoracic wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm. The four subdivisions of the pleura are the visceral pleura, parietal pleura, pleural cavity, and intrapleural fluid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parietal pleura is the outer layer of the pleura that connects to the thoracic wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm. It is a serous membrane that surrounds the lungs and plays a role in protecting and lubricating the lung surfaces.
The four subdivisions of the pleura are:
- Visceral pleura: The layer that is superficial to the lungs and extends into and lines the lung fissures.
- Parietal pleura: The outer layer that connects to the thoracic wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm.
- Pleural cavity: The space between the visceral and parietal layers.
- Intrapleural fluid: The small amount of fluid in the pleural cavity that helps reduce friction between the layers of the pleura during lung movement.