also: きょうまくこう
pleural cavity
Anatomical term for the space between the two pleurae surrounding the lungs.
When fluid accumulates in the pleural cavity, breathing can become difficult.
Standard kanji spelling for this anatomical term.
Alternate reading; less common in modern medical contexts.
Compound of 胸膜 (pleura) + 腔 (cavity). The reading きょうまくくう is standard; きょうまくこう is a less common variant.