Organs contained within the thoracic or abdoninopelvic cavities have a thin double layered serous membrane that covers them.
The two serous membrane layers are:
- Parietal layer: lines the walls of the cavity that the organ (viscera) is contained in
- Visceral layer: covers and sticks to the organ (viscera) within that cavity
Between the two layers of serous membrane there is a small amount of fluid. This fluid helps to lubricate the layers and helps to reduce friction.
The serous membrane is named differently depending on the cavity it is contained within
- Pleura: is the serous membrane of the pleural cavity
- Pericardium: is the serous membrane of the Pericardial cavity
- Peritoneum: is the Serous membrane of the abdominal cavity
