Monday, 28 September 2009

The Relationship Between Mesothelioma and the Mesothelium

Mesothelioma is a brutal form of cancer that is usually associated with exposure to asbestos. Fortunately, this form of cancer is fairly rare. That is particularly good news since it is also very deadly.


The name Mesothelioma is a bit of a tongue twister and one that most people don't exactly grasp. The name comes from a part of the body known as the mesothelium. The Mesothelium is a protective lining or sac that covers many of the internal organs in the body including the lungs and heart. As the name suggests, the cancer produces tumors in this lining, thus giving it the name Mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is a rather amazing organic process. It is actually comprised of two layers. The first layer surrounds the internal organ. The second forms a sac around the first layer. A lubricating liquid is then found between the two layers. This is a critical anatomical development. Why? It allows the organs to move without causing friction or injury. Without the mesothelium, a pumping heart or expanding lungs would be unable to function correctly.
You will rarely hear the term mesothelium used in these cancer cases. This is because of the fact the lining carries a different name depending on where it is located in the body. The pericardium is the name given the lining that covers the heart. The pleura is the name used for the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. The peritoneum is the name used for the lining in the abdominal area. When a diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer is made, it will usually be referred to as being in one of these locations, most often the pleura. There is a lining of mesothelium around the female and male reproductive organs, but it rarely impacted by Mesothelioma.
A diagnosis of Mesothelioma is frankly not a good one. The cancer can take 30 or 40 years to manifest, but is brutal once it does. The presence of the mesothelium throughout the internal cavity of the upper body gives the cancer ready made access to all the critical components of the body.
Thomas Ajava is with AtlantaMesotheliomaLawsuits.com - where you can can learn more about Atlanta Mesothelioma lawsuits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Ajava

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