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Serous fluids help keep our internal organs functioning smoothly.
IN PREVIOUS COLUMNS I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT LUBRICATION, friction and wear for non-metallic applications, including hair, knee joints and fabric fibers.
In addition to knee joints and hip joints, a very important topic for human lubrication (and for all other vertebrate animals) is serous fluid. Serous (or serosal) fluids are transparent-typically pale yellow-benign bodily lubricants that originate from serous glands.
Serous membranes (or serosa), are twolayered membranes that surround a number of organs in the body. Without these membranes and their serous fluids, we would find it very difficult and painful to breath, circulate blood or digest food. Just as important, the organs that need to move inside us, including our muscles, would likely wear out very quickly.
Serous membranes are smooth, consisting of two layers of epithelial cells, which secrete serous fluid. The inner layer-the visceral membrane-covers organs in body cavities. This inner layer of epithelial cells is followed by a connective tissue, after which is the second layer of epithelial cells, called the parietal membrane.
In humans, the three most important serous membranes are the pericardium, the peritoneum...