What is the function of the anatomical structure indicated by the blue arrow in the image below?

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Options:
explanation: The image shows a dissected specimen of the thoracic cavity with the lungs removed. The surface of the diaphragm can be seen inferiorly. The arrow points to the tissue layer on the internal wall of the thorax – the parietal pleura, whose function is to produce and drain pleural fluid and to attach to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration. This answer is not correct, because the parietal pleura does not attach to the abdominal wall, but to the thoracic cavity wall.
name: Attaches to the internal abdominal wall and produces pleural fluid in the pleural cavity
label: b
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissected specimen of the thoracic cavity with the lungs removed. The surface of the diaphragm can be seen inferiorly. This answer describes the function of the external intercostal muscles which contract during inspiration to allow chest expansion and decrease of intrathoracic pressure to draw air in. However, the arrow points to the tissue layer on the internal wall of the thorax – the parietal pleura, whose function is to produce and drain pleural fluid and to attach to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration.
name: Contracts during inspiration
label: d
answer: no
explanation: The image shows the thoracic cavity with the lungs removed. The surface of the diaphragm can be seen inferiorly. The arrow points to the tissue layer on the internal wall of the thorax – the parietal pleura, whose function is to produce and drain pleural fluid and to attach to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration.
name: Production and drainage of pleural fluid and attaches to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration
label: a
answer: yes
explanation: The image shows a dissected specimen of the lower thoracic cavity with the lungs removed. The surface of the diaphragm can be seen inferiorly. This answer describes the function of the internal intercostal muscles which contract during forced expiration to allow chest compression and increase of intrathoracic pressure to push air out. However, the arrow points to the tissue layer on the internal wall of the thorax – the parietal pleura, whose function is to produce and drain pleural fluid and to attach to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration.
name: Contracts during forced expiration
label: e
answer: no
explanation: The image shows a dissected specimen of the thoracic cavity with the lungs removed. The surface of the diaphragm can be seen inferiorly. This answer describes the function of the visceral pleura which is a very thin tissue layer which is so closely adherent to the lung parenchyma, so that it cannot be separated from the lung tissue during dissection. Thus, the arrow points to the tissue layer on the internal wall of the thorax – the parietal pleura, whose function is to produce and drain pleural fluid and to attach to the internal thoracic cavity wall to contribute to lung movements during inspiration and expiration.
name: Attaches to the surface of the lung parenchyma and contributes to lung movements during inspiration and expiration
label: c
answer: no

Correct answer: a