What is the lining of the lungs called?

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The lining of the lungs is called the pleura. The pleura is a double-layered serous membrane that envelops each lung and lines the thoracic cavity, providing a protective layer and facilitating smooth movement during breathing. It helps in reducing friction between the lungs and the chest wall as the lungs expand and contract.

The pericardium, on the other hand, is the membrane that surrounds the heart, not the lungs, which distinguishes it from the pleura. Bronchial tissue refers to the tissue making up the bronchial tubes that conduct air to and from the lungs, but it does not cover or line the lungs themselves. The alveolar membrane consists of the thin walls of the alveoli, where gas exchange occurs, but it also does not serve as the general lining of the lungs.

Understanding the specific roles of each membrane and tissue helps clarify why the pleura is the correct answer regarding what lines the lungs.