[Quantitative study of a SEM image processing system on the absorptive mesothelium of the diaphragmatic peritoneum].

SEM and a medical image processing system attached to SEM were used to study the peritoneal mesothelium on mice diaphragm. The absorptive mesothelium was first reported owing to its function and morphology. The absorptivity of diaphragmatic peritoneum was surveyed by the measurement of the area of the absorptive mesothelium. The arrangement of the absorptive mesothelium on diaphragmatic peritoneum was block-like with abnormal distribution, and the maximum and minimum areas of the block were 1153 microns 2 and 66 microns 2. But the absorptive mesothelium on left and right half diaphragm were normally distributed. The average areas of the absorptive mesothelium on all diaphragm, left half diaphragm and right half diaphragm were 432.6 microns 2, 270.5 microns 2 and 512.0 microns 2 respectively. The distributive law of the absorptive mesothelium was costal portion > sternum portion > vertebral column portion. The average absorptivity of all diaphragmatic peritoneum was 29.2%, but that of left and right half diaphragmatic peritoneum were 17.4% and 32.9% respectively.