mesothelium

[ mez-uh-thee-lee-uh m, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]
/ ˌmɛz əˈθi li əm, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə- /

noun, plural mes·o·the·li·a [mez-uh-thee-lee-uh, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] /ˌmɛz əˈθi li ə, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə-/. Anatomy, Embryology.

epithelium of mesodermal origin, which lines the body cavities.

Origin of mesothelium

First recorded in 1885–90; meso- + (epi)thelium

OTHER WORDS FROM mesothelium

mes·o·the·li·al, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for mesothelium

British Dictionary definitions for mesothelium

mesothelium
/ (ˌmɛsəʊˈθiːlɪəm) /

noun plural -liums or -lia (-lɪə)

epithelium, derived from embryonic mesoderm lining body cavities

Derived forms of mesothelium

mesothelial, adjective

Word Origin for mesothelium

from New Latin, from meso- + ( epi) thelium

Medical definitions for mesothelium

mesothelium
[ mĕz′ə-thēlē-əm ]

n. pl. mes•o•the•li•a (-lē-ə)

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.

Other words from mesothelium

mes′o•theli•al adj.

Scientific definitions for mesothelium

mesothelium
[ mĕz′ə-thēlē-əm ]

Plural mesothelia

A layer of flattened epithelial cells that lines the membranes of closed body cavities, including the pericardium, pleurae, and peritoneum. Compare endothelium.