Meaning & use
serous membrane
A thin membrane lining a body cavity that secretes a watery fluid to reduce friction.
See it in a sentence
The pleura, a serous membrane, allows the lungs to expand smoothly without rubbing against the chest wall.
Inflammation of the serous membrane around the heart can cause sharp chest pain.
A note on using this word
The pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum are all examples of serous membranes lining major body cavities.
Words with a similar meaning
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