Pleurocentesis is used to obtain fluid from which body cavity?

• A. Chest (Pleural Space)
• B. Abdominal Cavity
• C. Brain Cavity
• D. Joint Space

Answer: (A)

Pleurocentesis involves puncturing the pleural space, the chamber surrounding the lungs inside the chest, to withdraw pleural fluid or relieve fluid buildup. The term pleuro- refers to the pleura, and -centesis means a puncture to aspirate. This makes it a chest procedure aimed at the pleural cavity.

This is distinct from other cavity procedures: removing fluid from the abdominal cavity is paracentesis; accessing the brain’s fluid is done by procedures like lumbar puncture; drawing fluid from a joint is arthrocentesis.