Final answer:
The parietal and visceral pleura are the serous membranes lining the cavity around the lungs. They form the pleural cavity which helps reduce friction during breathing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The membranes that line the cavity surrounding the lungs are the parietal and visceral pleura. The pleurae are serous membranes that form a double layer around the lungs, consisting of the visceral pleura directly on the lung surface and the parietal pleura attached to the chest wall. The space between these two layers is called the pleural cavity, which contains serous fluid to reduce friction during lung expansion and breathing.
Serous membranes are also present in other parts of the body, such as the pericardium around the heart and the peritoneum within the abdominal cavity. However, when specifically discussing the lungs, the correct answer is the parietal and visceral pleura.