What Are the Functions of the Serous Fluid Around the Heart?
blood image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery(‘#jsArticleStep1 span.image a:first’).attr(‘href’,’http://i.ehow.com/images/a06/56/ev/functions-serous-fluid-around-heart_-1.1-800X800.jpg’); }); Serous membranes protect vital organs in case of injury. Serous fluid is a layer of liquid surrounding the heart that has an important role in the protection and function of the heart. The fluid is formed by a serous membrane (a thin layer of tissue which forms a protective barrier) called the pericardium that provides a lining around the heart. Lubrication Ideally, the heart is moving constantly to pump blood. Compare this movement to that of any mechanical pump and you can see what happens if it does not have something to lubricate the motion. Providing a frictionless environment is one of the functions of serous fluid. Without lubrication the heart cannot pump as often or as well. Protection While the membrane called pericardium is the main layer
