Serooskalvo

Serooskalvo is the term used for the serous membrane in vertebrate anatomy. It is a thin, slippery membrane that lines the walls of the thoracic and abdominal cavities and covers the external surfaces of most visceral organs. The serous membrane consists of a single layer of mesothelial cells, the mesothelium, supported by loose connective tissue, and it secretes a small amount of lubricating serous fluid.

The serous membranes are arranged in two layers: a parietal layer that lines the cavity walls and a visceral layer that covers each organ within the cavity. The potential space between these layers, the serous cavity, contains serous fluid that reduces friction generated by organ movement. Major examples include the pleura around the lungs, the pericardium around the heart, and the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity and covering abdominal organs.

Functions of the serous membranes include lubrication to minimize friction between moving organs, facilitation of organ mobility within cavities, and participation in immune defense with resident mesothelial and immune cells. The membranes are derived from mesoderm during embryonic development and receive variable vascular and neural supplies depending on the region.

Clinical relevance includes serositis, an inflammation of serous membranes seen in autoimmune diseases; fluid accumulations such as pleural effusion or ascites; adhesions that can form after injury or surgery; and, in some cases, mesothelioma arising from mesothelial cells, often linked to asbestos exposure. Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneum as a semi-permeable membrane for filtration.