Some of our body’s motions are more obvious than others. Everyone knows we have moving arms and legs, but we also have moving parts inside our body. Our internal organs are moving muscles as well, that expand and contract to maintain our normal body functions. Our heart is an extremely strong muscle that pumps blood all over our body. Our lungs are expanded and compressed by our diaphragm, which allows us to breathe and oxygenate our blood. Because there are so many moving parts in a relatively small space, they require a small lubrication so that may move freely. For this reason, our body’s have mesothelium, which are thin linings around our internal organs that assist in lubricating them as they move within the body cavity. These linings are usually only a few cells think, but are imperative to our normal body functioning.
The body has essentially three important mesothelium inside the chest and abdominal cavity. Among the more important is the pleura, which is the thin lining surrounding the lungs, which allows the lungs to expand and contract. The abdominal cavity is lined by the peritoneum, which allows the diaphragm to compress the lungs for breathing. The heart, which is constantly pumping, is lined by a mesothelium known as the pericardium. Each of these vital structures depends on the mesothelium to maintain their function, functions which humans depend on to live.
There is a malicious type of cancer that originates within the mesothelium known as malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has three types, whose names indicate where in the body the cancer has originated. Not surprisingly, the types are malignant pleural, malignant pericardial, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fibers, upon introduction to they body cavity, are especially damaging to the mesothelium, where these fibers often become lodged. Fibers in the mesothelium irritate the surrounding tissue over many years, leading eventually to tumor growth.
Mesothelioma has no cure. Those who have been exposed to asbestos should contact a physician immediately to ensure that asbestos has not damaged their internal tissue, particularly within the mesothelium.