The Pleura

Innervation

The parietal pleura is derived from somatopleur mesoderm and therefore has somatic innervation. Visceral pleura is derived from splanchnopleur mesoderm and therefore has autonomic innervation.

The parietal pleura on the body wall is innervated by the intercostal nerves, and that on the diaphragm and mediastinum by the phrenic nerves. Pain from parietal pleura is therefor felt either on the body wall, or in the dermatomes of the phrenic nerve (C3,4,5).

The visceral pleura is innervated by the vagus and sympathetic fibres. However it is insensitive to pain and temperature stimuli.

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