Question

serous membrane: which one is a thicker membrane and why? (pericardium, peritoneum or pleura)

Answer 1

Pericardium

• Pericardium is a membrane which covers the heart.
• The pericardium is a double layered thick wall which contains heart and major blood vessels.
• The two layers of the Pericardium are 1. Fibrous Pericardium 2. Serous Pericardium.
• Pericardial cavity has pericardial fluid
• Pericardium mainly protects the heart, lubricates the heart , protects the heart from infections and keeps the heart in place within the chest wall.

Peritoneum

• Peritoneum is a membrane which covers the abdominal cavity
• There are two layers of Peritoneum. The outer layer is called as Parietal peritoneum which is attached to the abdominal wall and the inner layer is called as Visceral peritoneum which surrounds the internal organs of abdominal cavity.
• Peritoneal cavity has peritoneal fluid
• The peritoneum supports the internal abdominal organs and serve as a channel for their blood, nerve and lymph supplies

Pleura

• Pleura is a membrane which covers the lungs
• Pleura has two layers, the outer part is called as Parietal Pleura and the inner covering is called as Visceral Pleura
• Pleural space has pleural fluid
• Pleura helps the lung to function optimally while breathing and the pleural fluid helps in lubrication of the lung.

From all the above mentioned Serous Membranes like Pericadium, Pleura and Peritoneum, the thickest membrane of all is Pericardium based on the strong anatomic structure and the function related to it and the longest membrane of all the three is Peritoneum based on the anatomic design and function.