MESOTHELIUM

[me.so.the.li.um] n, pl -lia [NL, fr. mes- + epithelium] (1886): epithelium derived from mesoderm that lines the body cavity of a vertebrate embryo and gives rise to epithelia (as of the peritoneum, pericardium, and pleurae), striated muscle, heart muscle, and several minor structures -- me.so.the.li.al adj