mesothelial cell


mes·o·the·li·al cell

one of the flat cells of mesodermal origin that form the superficial layer of the serosal membranes lining the body cavities of the abdomen and thorax.

mesothelial cell

The type of epithelial cell that lines serous (pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial) cavities, blood vessels, and lymph vessels; these cells are usually squamous (flattened) and form sheets one layer thick. Mesothelial cells are derived from mesenchyme cells of the embryo. A sheet of mesothelial cells is called a mesothelium. See: mesotheliumSee also: cell