Mesothelium

Mesothelium

Micrograph of benign mesothelial cells. Peritoneal wash. Pap stain.

A layer of mesothelial cells grown in cell culture, featuring the typical "cobblestone" appearance
Details
Identifiers
Latin Mesothelium
MeSH Mesothelium
TH H2.00.02.0.02017, H3.04.08.0.00003
FMA 14074

Anatomical terminology

The mesothelium is a membrane composed of simple squamous cells that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracic cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery), mediastinum and pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis) and covers the internal reproductive organs of women (the tunica serosa uteri). Mesothelium that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the layer that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium. Mesothelium is the epithelial component of serosa.

It is a form of simple squamous epithelium.[1]

Origin

Mesothelium derives from the embryonic mesoderm cell layer, that lines the coelom (body cavity) in the embryo. It develops into the layer of cells that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body.

Structure

The mesothelium forms a monolayer of flattened squamous-like epithelial cells resting on a thin basement membrane supported by dense irregular connective tissue. Cuboidal mesothelial cells may be found at areas of injury, the milky spots of the omentum, and the peritoneal side of the diaphragm overlaying the lymphatic lacunae. The luminal surface is covered with microvilli. The proteins and serosal fluid trapped by the microvilli provide a slippery surface for internal organs to slide past one another.

Function

The mesothelium is composed of an extensive monolayer of specialized cells (mesothelial cells) that line the body's serous cavities and internal organs. The main purpose of these cells is to produce a lubricating fluid that is released between layers,[2] providing a slippery, non-adhesive, and protective surface to facilitate intracoelomic movement.

The mesothelium is also implicated in the transport and movement of fluid and particulate matter across the serosal cavities, leukocyte migration in response to inflammatory mediators, synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix proteins to aid in serosal repair, and the release of factors to promote the disposition and clearance of fibrin (such as plasminogen). Mesothelial cells are capable of phagocytosis and are antigen presenting cells. Furthermore, the secretion of glycosaminoglycans and lubricants may protect the body against infection and tumor dissemination.

Role in disease

See Also

References

  1. Victor P. Eroschenko (2008). Di Fiore's atlas of histology with functional correlations. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 31–. ISBN 978-0-7817-7057-6. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  2. Leopold G. Koss; Myron R. Melamed (2006). Koss' diagnostic cytology and its histopathologic bases. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 124–. ISBN 978-0-7817-1928-5. Retrieved 28 May 2011.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, February 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.