Human cell

Parietal Mesothelial Cells (Body Wall Lining)

Your heart, lungs, and belly organs are always moving. A slippery lining on the inside of your body walls helps them slide without rubbing.

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Lesson 1

Wallpaper for your insides

Your chest and belly are like rooms. Parietal mesothelial cells line the inside walls of these rooms, like a very thin wallpaper.

The cells are flat, a bit like tiles. They sit in a single layer, and their tops are covered in tiny finger-like bumps.

  • In the chest, the lining is called the pleura.
  • Around the heart, it is part of the pericardium.
  • In the belly, it is called the peritoneum.

Watch and learn

How Your Lungs Work

By Nemours KidsHealth. A fun video for kids.

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