What it means
Pain from irritation of the pleura, the thin layers that line the lungs and the inside of the chest wall. When they are inflamed, they rub as the lungs move, so breathing in hurts. Causes include pneumonianoo-MOHN-yuhAn infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.pneum/o lung, air-ia conditionFull entry , pulmonary embolismPUL-muh-nair-ee EM-buh-liz-umA blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.pulmon/o lung-ary relating toembol/o plug-ism conditionFull entry , pleurisy from a virus, pneumothorax and lupus.
For the nurse
Ask the client to point to the pain and say whether breathing changes it. Check breath sounds (a pleural friction rub may be heard), oxygen saturation and vital signs, and report new pleuritic pain, especially with sudden shortness of breath.
At a glance
| Also written | pleuritic pain |
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Related terms
pulmonary embolism
A blockage of an artery in the lungs, usually by a blood clot that has traveled there from elsewhere in the body.
pneumonia
An infection of one or both lungs in which the air sacs fill with fluid or pus.
-thorax
A word ending that means the chest or the chest cavity.