This document discusses respiration and the pleura. It defines respiration and lists normal respiratory rates by age group. Respiration involves external respiration between the lungs and blood and internal respiration between blood and tissues. The pleura is a bi-layered membrane enclosing each lung. The intra-pleural space between the layers contains a thin film of fluid that lubricates the layers and creates negative pressure within the pleural cavity. Potential issues involving the pleural space include pneumothorax, hydrothorax, hemothorax, and pyothorax.

1. (Respiratory Therapist)

3. • Respiration is the process by
which oxygen is taken in and
carbon dioxide is given out. The
first breath takes place only after
birth.

4. Newborn : 30 to 60/minute
Early childhood : 20 to 40/minute
Late childhood : 15 to 25/minute
Adult : 12 to 16/minute

5. Respiration is classified into two types:
1. External respiration that involves
exchange of respiratory gases, i.e.
oxygen and carbon dioxide between
lungs and blood
2. Internal respiration, which involves
exchange of gases between blood and
tissues.

7. Pleura:
 Each lung is enclosed by a bi-layered
serous membrane called pleura or
pleural sac.
Pleura has two layers namely inner
visceral and outer parietal layers.

8. Visceral layer is attached firmly to
the surface of the lungs.
At hilum, it is continuous with
parietal layer, which is attached to
the wall of thoracic cavity.

9. Intra-pleural Space or Pleural
Cavity:
Intra-pleural space or pleural cavity
is the narrow space in between the
two layers of pleura.
Intra-pleural Fluid
 Intra-pleural space contains a thin
film of serous fluid called intra-
pleural fluid, which is secreted by
the visceral layer of the pleura.

10. 1. It functions as the lubricant to
prevent friction between two layers
of pleura
2. It is involved in creating the
negative pressure called intra-
pleural pressure within intra-
pleural space.

11. 1. Pneumothorax
2. Hydrothorax
3. Hemothorax
4. pyothorax