Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Gross Anatomy of the Lungs

Gross Anatomy of the Lungs

The lungs are a pair of vital organs connected to the trachea via the left and right bronchi. The base of these organs meets the dome-shaped muscle known as the diaphragm. Encased by the pleurae, the lungs contact the mediastinum. The right lung is shorter yet wider, and has a larger volume than the left lung. The left lung has an indentation known as the cardiac notch. The superior region of the lungs is referred to as the apex, whereas the base is the lower region near the diaphragm. The...

Pleura of the Lungs

Pleura of the Lungs

The lungs are nestled in a cavity, shielded by the pleura. The pleura, a form of serous membrane, wraps around each lung. This membrane arrangement consists of two layers: the visceral and parietal pleurae. The visceral pleura lines the surface of the lungIn contrast, the parietal pleura is the outer layer and contacts to the thoracic wall, the mediastinum, and the diaphragm. The hilum is the point of connection between the visceral and parietal layers. The space between the parietal and...

Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description

Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description

The pleura is a vital part of the respiratory system. It's a double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs and lining the chest cavity. The two layers of the pleura are:

Anatomy of Respiratory System II: Lower Respiratory Tract

Anatomy of Respiratory System II: Lower Respiratory Tract

The lower respiratory tract is anatomically composed of several vital structures, including the larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, alveoli, lungs, and pleurae. Each component has a specific function, and all are intricately connected to ensure efficient respiration.
The Larynx
It is located between the pharynx and the trachea, acts as a passageway for air, and hosts several critical structures, such as the epiglottis, vocal cords, and glottis. The epiglottis acts as a gateway, guiding food to the...

Pneumothorax-I

Pneumothorax-I

A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax means the presence of air in the pleural space — the thin potential gap between the visceral and parietal pleura. This condition disrupts the normal pressure balance that keeps the lungs inflated, leading to partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.Normal physiologyUnder normal conditions, the pleural space maintains a slightly negative intrapleural pressure, which keeps the lungs expanded against the chest wall. This negative pressure creates a delicate balance between...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Management of Deep Neck Infection Associated with Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis: A Scoping Review.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2025

Same author

Deep Neck Infections: The Effectiveness of Therapeutic Management and Bacteriological Profile.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2025

Same author

Imaging and Biomarkers: The Assesment of Pulmonary Embolism Risk and Early Mortality.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)·2024

Same author

Improving the Treatment Outcome of Naso-Orbito-Ethmoido-Maxillary Fractures Using Virtual Three-Dimensional Anthropometric Data.

International journal of environmental research and public health·2022

Same author

High-precision measurement of the <i>W</i> boson mass with the CDF II detector.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2022

Same author

Lung transplantation for COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: The first French patient.

Respiratory medicine and research·2021

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Published on: March 3, 2023

[Unique monoblock lung right-left, unique pleural cavity].

A Aldea¹, Mihaela Scarlat, M Bosânceanu

¹Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica de Chirurgie Toracică.

Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii De Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi

|August 13, 2010

Summary

A patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome underwent surgery for chronic pleural empyema. Unique anatomical anomalies, including a single pleural cavity and a monoblock lung, were discovered during the procedure.

More Related Videos

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Published on: January 23, 2026

Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Published on: February 27, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Adults: Image Acquisition

Published on: March 3, 2023

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Published on: January 23, 2026

Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Published on: February 27, 2026

Area of Science:

Thoracic surgery
Cardiology
Congenital anomalies

Background:

A 34-year-old female diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome presented for surgical treatment of left basal chronic pleural empyema.
The patient's complex medical history necessitated a thorough surgical approach.

Observation:

During surgical intervention, multiple congenital anatomical anomalies were identified.
These included a unique single pleural cavity, a left-right monoblock lung configuration, and a hypoplastic left lung.
Further anomalies comprised absent left lung fissures, absence of the left pulmonary artery, and aberrant vascular and bronchial supply to the left lung originating from the right pulmonary artery.

Findings:

The surgical team successfully performed a pleural-pulmonary shelling procedure.
The procedure was completed without complications.
The entire pleural cavity was drained post-surgery.

Implications:

This case highlights the importance of recognizing and managing complex congenital anomalies during thoracic surgery.
Such findings underscore the need for individualized surgical planning in patients with syndromic conditions.
Detailed anatomical understanding is crucial for successful surgical outcomes in rare presentations.