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.
Lesson 2
Making things slippery
Every time you breathe, your lungs slide along your chest wall. Your heart beats and your gut squeezes too.
Mesothelial cells make a thin, slippery fluid. It lets organs slide along the walls without rubbing or sticking.
Try thisRub your dry palms together. Now add a drop of water and rub again. The water makes them slide more easily, just like the fluid these cells make.
Wow!There is only a tiny bit of this fluid, just a thin wet film, but it is enough to keep everything sliding smoothly.