pleura

This term refers specifically to the thin, double-layered membrane that protects the lungs. It is used almost exclusively in medical, anatomical, and surgical contexts to describe the physical barrier and the fluid-filled space between the lung and the chest wall.

Grammatically, this noun follows a Latin-derived pattern where the plural form ends in -ae. While it can be used as a collective reference to the membrane system, medical professionals frequently distinguish between the visceral and parietal layers when discussing specific pathologies.