paroi

Paroi is a French noun meaning wall or partition. It derives from Latin paries, parietis, and it is used across disciplines to denote a boundary surface that separates two spaces or provides structural support.

In architecture and engineering, paroi refers to the wall of a building, room, or container. It can describe exterior or interior walls and is used in terms such as paroi d'un bâtiment or paroi d'un réservoir, emphasizing the barrier that defines or contains space.

In anatomy and medicine, paroi denotes a body wall. Examples include la paroi abdominale (the abdominal wall) and la paroi thoracique (the thoracic wall). The term highlights the boundary between internal organs and surrounding tissues or cavities.

In biology, paroi cellulaire or cell wall describes the rigid layer surrounding many cells, notably in plants, fungi, and bacteria. Its composition varies by kingdom: cellulose in plants, chitin in fungi, and peptidoglycan in bacteria. The cell wall provides shape, protection, and structural support, and its properties influence interactions with the environment and susceptibility to certain treatments.

The word also appears in technical contexts to describe any barrier of a vessel, tank, or container that separates contents from the exterior. As a general term, paroi emphasizes the concept of a boundary surface performing a protective or defining role.