Relating to both the ribs and the pleura, the membrane that lines the inside of the rib cage and surrounds the lungs.
From Latin 'costa' (rib) combined with 'pleural' from Greek 'pleura' (side, rib). Anatomically, the term describes the intimate relationship between the chest wall (ribs) and the lung lining (pleura) that must move together during breathing.
The costopleural membrane is an engineering marvel—it allows your ribs to move freely while keeping your lungs sealed and airtight, like a frictionless hinge that somehow also maintains a perfect seal, which is why puncturing the pleura causes a collapsed lung.
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