serous
Meaning of serous: Serous describes thin, watery fluid or the membranes that produce it, distinguishing it from thicker mucous secretions elsewhere in the body.
Definition of serous
Serous is a term describing a thin, clear, watery fluid, similar in character to serum, or describing a membrane and its associated gland that produces this type of fluid. Serous membranes line several body cavities, including the pleura around the lungs, the pericardium around the heart, and the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity, and they normally produce a small amount of serous fluid that reduces friction between organs and the surrounding cavity wall.
Serous fluid is distinguished from mucus, a thicker, more viscous secretion produced by mucous membranes and glands found in locations such as the respiratory and digestive tracts. While both types of fluid serve a lubricating or protective role, their composition and consistency differ considerably.
An abnormal buildup of serous fluid within a body cavity, such as a serous pleural effusion, can occur in various conditions, and describing fluid as serous, rather than as cloudy, bloody, or purulent, provides useful information about what might be causing the fluid to accumulate.
Used in a sentence
The wound produced a small amount of clear, serous drainage during the dressing change.
Good to know
Serous fluid is thin and watery, distinguishing it from thicker mucous secretions, a distinction used when describing wound drainage, effusions, or discharge to indicate a likely underlying cause.
Word origin
Where “serous” comes from
Formed from Latin serum, meaning whey or watery fluid, combined with the adjectival suffix -ous.