Which cavity is on either side of the mediastinum and contains the lungs and the pleural linings?

• A. Thoracic Cavity
• B. Mediastinum cavity
• C. Abdominal Cavity
• D. Pleura cavity

Answer: (D)

The lungs sit in two spaces called the pleural cavities, with one on each side of the mediastinum. These cavities are lined by the two layers of pleura—the visceral pleura covering each lung and the parietal pleura lining the chest wall—creating a small, lubricated space for the lungs to move. That makes the pleural cavities the exact areas described as containing the lungs and their pleural linings. The thoracic cavity is the overall chest region that includes these spaces, but the specific answer here points to the pleural cavities. The mediastinum is the central compartment that does not contain the lungs, and the abdominal cavity is below the diaphragm.