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 immediately
surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium
produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers,
allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding
and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in
the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most
of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that
surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium
covers and protects the heart.
Source:
Mesothelioma
