Name the three chambers of a standard chest drainage system.

• A. Water-seal chamber, suction control chamber, collection chamber
• B. Collection chamber, water-seal chamber, suction control chamber
• C. Suction control chamber, collection chamber, water-seal chamber
• D. Collection chamber, suction, filter chamber

Answer: (B)

The system is built around three distinct chambers, each with a specific role in chest drainage. The collection chamber is where the fluid, blood, or air from the pleural space gathers, allowing you to monitor output. The water-seal chamber provides a one-way barrier: a column of water creates a seal so air can escape from the chest but cannot flow back in, which helps prevent re-entry of air into the pleural space as the lung re-expands. The suction control chamber connects to wall suction and uses another water column to regulate the negative pressure applied to the chest; the water height sets the suction level (typically around -20 cm H2O), with bubbling indicating active suction. This combination—collection, water-seal, and suction control—defines the standard chest drainage setup.