Potential space
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (December 2015) |
In anatomy, a potential space is a space between two adjacent structures that are normally pressed together (directly apposed). The pleural space, between the visceral and parietal pleura of the lung, is a potential space. Though it only contains a small amount of fluid normally, it can sometimes accumulate fluid or air that widens the space.[1] The pericardial space is another potential space that may fill with fluid (effusion) in certain disease states (e.g. pericarditis; a large pericardial effusion may result in cardiac tamponade.
Examples
- costodiaphragmatic recess
- pericardial cavity
- epidural space (within the skull)
- subdural space
- peritoneal cavity
References
- ^ Weinberger, S (2019). Principles of Pulmonary Medicine (7th ed.). Elsevier. pp. 206–207. ISBN 9780323523714.
- Guyton, Arthur (2006). Textbook of Medical Physiology. St. Louis: Elsevier Saunders. ISBN 978-0-7216-0240-0.
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