innervation
Last reviewed 01/2018
The innervation of the pleura can be considered in terms of:
- visceral pleura:
- no sensory afferents
- supplied only by autonomic fibres
- parietal pleura:
- costal pleura:
- supplied by somatic nerve fibres from overlying intercostal space
- hence, costal pleural disease may refer pain to overlying thoracic wall
- diaphragmatic pleura:
- supplied by phrenic nerve centrally
- supplied by lower intercostal nerves peripherally
- hence, may refer diaphragmatic pleural disease to overlying thoracic wall or shoulder
- mediastinal pleura: supplied by phrenic nerve during its descent, hence may again refer pain to the shoulder