Definition of "mesothelium" []

• The layer of flat cells of mesodermal origin that lines the embryonic body cavity and gives rise to the squamous cells of the peritoneum, pericardium, and pleura. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body."
• "In medical terms, it is a cancer formed in the mesothelium, which is a direct consequence of prolonged asbestos exposure."
• "Mesothelioma mainly affects the mesothelium which is a protective lining covering all internal organs of the body."