The factors responsible for holding the lungs to the thorax wall are ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pleural fluid helps to create surface tension that holds the lungs in place against the thorax wall, while the negative pressure in the pleural cavity helps to keep the lungs expanded and therefore in contact with the wall. The other choices are not correct because the smooth muscles of the lung do not play a major role in holding the lungs to the thorax wall, and the diaphragm and intercostal muscles alone are not sufficient to support the lungs without the aid of the pleural membrane. The visceral pleurae and changing volume of the lungs do contribute to the overall mechanics of breathing, but they do not specifically hold the lungs to the thorax wall.

The Factors Responsible for Holding the Lungs to the Thorax