Mesothelium
The
mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells; one layer surrounds the organ, and the other forms a sac around the first layer. The mesothelium produces a fluid between the layers that acts as a lubricant, allowing for the free movement of the body's organs and preventing unwanted friction of the organs against nearby structures. This smooth movement is important for many of the body's operations, including the beating of the heart, the expanding of the lungs, and the movement of the digestive system (1, 2).
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The mesothelium goes by different names depending on its location in the body. The membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity is known as the
pleura. The tissue that covers most of the organs of the abdominal cavity is the
peritoneum. The heart covering is known as the
pericardium. The membrane surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis, and the mesothelial tissue surrounding the female internal reproductive organs is known as the tunica serosa uteri (1).
Cancer of the mesothelium is known as mesothelioma. A common symptom of mesothelioma is the accumulation of the fluid between the layers of the mesothelium, and the discomfort from this fluid build-up is often the first indication to the patient that the condition exists. If left untreated, the pressure from the fluid in the mesotheluim may constrict the organs, which can inhibiting organ function, or the cancer may spread to nearby tissues (2).