Answer: C

Reasoning: During thoracentesis the needle traverses the skin, superficial tissues, intercostal muscles, endothoracic (thoracic) fascia and finally the parietal pleura to enter the pleural cavity. It does not pierce the visceral (pulmonary) pleura, which lies on the lung surface and must remain intact to avoid pneumothorax [Qureshi, 1994, PMID 7989206; Neff, 1984, PMID 6739795].