Healing of the peritoneum occurs primarily by re-epithelization of the damaged site. New epithelial cells are attracted to the site of injury by chemotactic messengers released by platelets, blood clots, or leukocytes within the injured tissue. At this point, healing of the peritoneum differs from that seen with skin. With skin, healing occurs at the periphery of the injury. As a result, the duration of healing directly correlates with the size of the injury.
Larger injuries take longer to heal than smaller ones.
The source of these epithelial cells is controversial and includes adjacent normal mesothelial cells and subperitoneal fibroblasts.