Mesothelium (Noun)
Meaning
Epithelium originating in the embryonic mesoderm; lines the primordial body cavity.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The mesothelium develops in the embryonic mesoderm, forming a layer of epithelial cells that lines the body cavity.
- In adults, the mesothelium lines the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities, producing a lubricating fluid that reduces friction between organs.
- Mesothelium also lines the ovarian bursa in females and covers the surface of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus.
- The development of mesothelium from the embryonic mesoderm is crucial for the formation of the body cavities that house the internal organs.
- Dysfunction of the mesothelium can lead to various diseases, including malignant mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and other organs.