Find the word definition

Crossword clues for pleura

The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pleura

Pleura \Pleu"ra\, n., pl. of Pleuron.

Pleura

Pleura \Pleu"ra\, n.; pl. L. Pleur[ae], E. Pleuras. [NL., n. fem., fr. Gr. ? a rib, the side.]

  1. (Anat.)

    1. The smooth serous membrane which closely covers the lungs and the adjacent surfaces of the thorax; the pleural membrane.

    2. The closed sac formed by the pleural membrane about each lung, or the fold of membrane connecting each lung with the body wall.

  2. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Pleuron.

Pleura

Pleuron \Pleu"ron\, n.; pl. Pleura. [NL., fr. Gr. ? a rib.] (Zo["o]l.)

  1. One of the sides of an animal.

  2. One of the lateral pieces of a somite of an insect.

  3. One of lateral processes of a somite of a crustacean.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
pleura

early 15c., medical Latin, from Greek pleura "side of the body, rib," also "flank of an army, page of a book," of unknown origin.

Wiktionary
pleura

n. 1 (context anatomy English) The smooth serous membrane which closely covers the lungs and the adjacent surfaces of the thorax; the pleural membrane. 2 (plural of pleuron English)

WordNet
pleura
  1. n. the thin serous membrane around the lungs and inner walls of the chest

  2. [also: pleurae (pl)]

pleura
  1. See pleuron

  2. [also: pleurae (pl)]

Usage examples of "pleura".

The edges of the diaphragm are firmly attached to the walls of the trunk, and the center is supported by the pericardium and the pleura.

Both the pericardium and left pleura were distended with fresh blood and large clots.

The wound itself was not very grave - pleura untouched - and extracting the marline-spike was no great matter, but it had driven a splinter of rib hard against a nerve, and withdrawing that was a delicate business.