serous membrane

serous membrane
= serosa
a smooth transparent membrane, consisting of mesothelium and underlying elastic fibrous connective tissue, lining certain large cavities of the body. The peritoneum of the abdomen, pleura of the chest, and pericardium of the heart are all serous membranes. Each consists of two portions: the parietal portion lines the walls of the cavity, and the visceral portion covers the organs concerned. The two are continuous, forming a closed sac with the organs essentially outside the sac. The inner surface of the sac is moistened by a thin fluid derived from blood serum, which allows frictionless movement of organs within their cavities.

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  • serous membrane — n any of various thin membranes (as the peritoneum, pericardium, or pleurae) that consist of a single layer of thin flat mesothelial cells resting on a connective tissue stroma, secrete a serous fluid, and usu. line bodily cavities or enclose the …   Medical dictionary

  • Serous membrane — Serous Se rous, a. [Cf. F. s[ e]reux. See {Serum}.] (Physiol.) (a) Thin; watery; like serum; as, the serous fluids. (b) Of or pertaining to serum; as, the serous glands, membranes, layers. See {Serum}. [1913 Webster] {Serous membrane}. (Anat.)… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • serous membrane — n. the thin membrane lining most of the closed cavities of the body and folded back over the enclosed organs, as the peritoneum or pericardium …   English World dictionary

  • Serous membrane — Infobox Anatomy Name = PAGENAME Latin = tunica serosa GraySubject = GrayPage = Caption = Layers of the enteric nervous system. (Serosa at top, in red.) Caption2 = Stomach. (Serosa is labeled at far right, and is colored yellow.) Precursor =… …   Wikipedia

  • serous membrane — noun a thin membrane lining the closed cavities of the body; has two layers with a space between that is filled with serous fluid • Syn: ↑serosa • Hypernyms: ↑membrane, ↑tissue layer • Hyponyms: ↑pleura, ↑peritoneum …   Useful english dictionary

  • serous membrane — noun Date: 1813 a thin membrane (as the peritoneum) with cells that secrete a serous fluid; especially serosa …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • serous membrane — noun A thin membrane that secretes serum lining an internal body cavity, such as the peritoneum, the pericardium, and the pleura. Syn: serosa, serous tunic …   Wiktionary

  • serous membrane — Anat., Zool. any of various thin membranes, as the peritoneum, that line certain cavities of the body and exude a serous fluid. Also called serosa. [1865 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • serous membrane — se′rous mem′brane n. anat. zool. zool. any of various thin membranes, as the peritoneum, that line certain cavities of the body and exude a serous fluid Also called serosa • Etymology: 1865–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • serous membrane — /sɪərəs ˈmɛmbreɪn/ (say searruhs membrayn) noun any of various thin membranes, as the peritoneum, which line certain cavities of the body and exude a serous fluid …  

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