Integumentary System Vocab

They are also called covering and lining membranes. It includes the cutaneous membrane (skin), mucous membranes, and the serous membranes. Although they all contain an epithelium sheet, it is always combined with an underlying layer of connective tissue.

Your skin. Its superficial epidermis is composed of a keratinizaing stratified squamous epithelium. The underlying dermis is mostly dense (fibrous) connective tissue. It is exposed to air and is a dry membrane.

Composed of epithelium (the type varies with the site) resting on a loose connective tissue membrane called a lamina propria. This membrane type lines all body cavities that open to the exterior, such as those of the hollow organs of the respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts.

Composed of a layer of simple squamous epithelium resting on a layer of areoler connective tissue. In contrast to mucous membranes, serous membranes line body cavities that are closed to the exterior (except for the dorsal cavity and joint cavities). Serous membranes occur in pairs. The parietal layer lines a specific portion of the wall of the ventral body cavity. It folds in on itself to form the visceral layer, which covers the outside of the organs in that cavity.

The serosa lining the body cavity and covering its organs is the peritoneum.

The membrane surrounding the lungs is the pleura.

The membrane surrounding the heart is the pericardium.

Composed of soft areoler connective tissue and contain no epithelial cells at all. These membranes line the fibrous capsules surrounding joints, where they provide a smooth surface and secrete a lubricating fluid. They also line small sacs of connective tissue called bursae and the tube-like tendon sheaths.

Smalls sacs of connective tissue that are lined by synovial membrane.

Tube-like structures that are lined by synovial membrane.