Pleura

Pleura, plōō′ra, n. a delicate serous membrane which covers the lungs and lines the cavity of the chest:—pl. Pleu′ræ.—adj. Pleu′ral.—ns. Pleurapoph′ysis, a lateral process of a vertebra, with the morphological character of a rib:—pl. Pleurapoph′yses; Pleurench′yma (bot.), the woody tissue of plants; Pleu′risy, inflammation of the pleura, the investing membrane of the lung; Pleu′risy-root, a plant common in the United States, of which the root has medicinal repute, the infusion being used as a diaphoretic and expectorant.—adjs. Pleurit′ic, -al, pertaining to, or affected with, pleurisy: causing pleurisy.—ns. Pleurī′tis, pleurisy; Pleurodyn′ia, neuralgia of the chest-wall, which may simulate closely the pain of pleurisy; Pleu′ro-pneumō′nia, inflammation of the pleura and lungs, a contagious disease peculiar to cattle. [Gr., a rib.]