Which statements correctly pair pleural membranes with their locations?

• A. Visceral pleura covers the lungs; Parietal pleura lines the chest wall
• B. Visceral pleura lines the chest wall; Parietal pleura covers the lungs
• C. Pleural membranes line the trachea
• D. Pleural membranes do not exist

Answer: (A)

Understanding the pleural membranes involves knowing that there are two layers with different locations. The visceral pleura directly covers the lungs, following their contours and fissures. The parietal pleura lines the inside of the chest cavity, including the chest wall, the upper surface of the diaphragm, and the mediastinum. Between these layers is the pleural cavity, which contains a small amount of fluid to allow smooth movement during breathing.

This makes the statement that the visceral pleura covers the lungs and the parietal pleura lines the chest wall correct. The other ideas don’t fit: pleural membranes do exist, and they do not line the trachea; swapping the descriptions would place the wrong layer on the structures.