The membrane that surrounds and protects most of the body's internal organs is known as the mesothelium. It is made up of two separate layers of cells. The first is that closest to the organ itself. The second layer is what actually forms the sac around the organ. This membrane is responsible for producing a special lubricating fluid. It is this fluid that allows the organ to move around in the body un-hurt. As noted, the mesothelium has different names depending on which organ it surrounds. The peritoneum is found in the abdominal cavity and the pleura surrounds the lungs and chest cavity.
The National Cancer Institute states that "[m]ost people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles." |
