The mesothelium is a cellular membrane covering five cavities of the human body: the pericardial (around the heart sac), pleural (around the lungs), peritoneal (around the abdominal cavity), scrotal (inside the scrotum), and the cavities in the women's internal reproductive organs. Basically, it is the thin layer of mesodermal epithelium cells surrounding the above cavities.
Mesothelium derives from the mesoderm membrane covering the body cavity of the embryo which further develops into a layer of cells surrounding and protecting most of the internal organs. Mesothelium can be of two types: visceral mesothelium closely surrounds the organ, and parietal mesothelium is the "sac" lining the cavity.
The proteins and serosal fluid that are released between the two layers of Mesothelium make a lubricating liquid providing a slippery protective surface to facilitate movement of organs, such as the heart throbbing, the lungs breathing and the intestinal peristalsis. The lubrication allows organs to glide easily inside the cavity.
Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease which causes abnormal growth and division of the mesothelium cells. They can invade and damage the adjusting tissues and organs and the cancer cells can also spread from their original location to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma mostly starts in the peritoneal cavity. More than 90% of mesothelioma cases are connected with asbestos exposure. Smoking combined with asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing mesothelioma.
In the 20th century many people have been exposed to asbestos not even knowing it. Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral notable for its chemical- and heat-resistance and electricity non-conducting. Asbestos was widely used in industry and everyday life until 1980 when the EU and many other developed countries have banned it. When swallowed or inhaled asbestos can stay in the human body producing toxic effect which may result in a number of serious diseases, such as asbestosis, Mesothelioma (Mesothelium cancer), lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, colorectal cancer, and other illnesses.
Mesothelioma (also known as "asbestos cancer") is a most common asbestos-related type of cancer. The Mesothelium is a cellular membrane lining certain cavities of the human body. Mesothelioma may develop in lung, abdominal, scrotal, and heart sac cavities, the four types of M. being called Pleural, Peritoneal, Testicular, and Pericardial. In 70 percent of cases Mesothelioma is pleural in origin.
Up to 3000 cases of malignant Mesothelioma are registered in the United States every year. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed at its later stage because its symptoms usually appear 20 to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. Another reason of untimely diagnosis is that the symptoms of Mesothelioma (i.e. chest pain, continual coughing, short breath, fatigue or fever etc) resemble less severe and quite common conditions, such as influenza.
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