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The pericardium (from the Greek pe?????d??? /perikardion/) is a double-walled sac that contains the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
 and the roots of the great vessels
Great vessels

Great vessels is a term used to refer collectively to the primary blood vessels, which include:*Vena cavae**Superior vena cava**Inferior vena cava...
.

e are two layers to the pericardial sac: the fibrous pericardium
Fibrous pericardium

The fibrous pericardium is the most superficial layer of the pericardium. It is a dense connective tissue, protecting the heart, anchoring it to the surrounding walls, and preventing it from overfilling with blood....
 and the serous pericardium
Serous pericardium

The serous pericardium is deeper than the fibrous pericardium. It contains two layers, both of which function in lubricating the heart to prevent friction from occurring during heart activity:...
. The serous pericardium, in turn, is divided into two layers, the parietal pericardium, which is fused to and inseparable from the fibrous pericardium, and the visceral pericardium, which is part of the epicardium
Epicardium

Epicardium describes the outer layer of heart tissue . When considered as a part of the pericardium, it is the inner layer, or visceral pericardium....
.






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Encyclopedia


The pericardium (from the Greek pe?????d??? /perikardion/) is a double-walled sac that contains the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
 and the roots of the great vessels
Great vessels

Great vessels is a term used to refer collectively to the primary blood vessels, which include:*Vena cavae**Superior vena cava**Inferior vena cava...
.

Layers

There are two layers to the pericardial sac: the fibrous pericardium
Fibrous pericardium

The fibrous pericardium is the most superficial layer of the pericardium. It is a dense connective tissue, protecting the heart, anchoring it to the surrounding walls, and preventing it from overfilling with blood....
 and the serous pericardium
Serous pericardium

The serous pericardium is deeper than the fibrous pericardium. It contains two layers, both of which function in lubricating the heart to prevent friction from occurring during heart activity:...
. The serous pericardium, in turn, is divided into two layers, the parietal pericardium, which is fused to and inseparable from the fibrous pericardium, and the visceral pericardium, which is part of the epicardium
Epicardium

Epicardium describes the outer layer of heart tissue . When considered as a part of the pericardium, it is the inner layer, or visceral pericardium....
. The epicardium is the layer immediately outside of the heart muscle proper (the myocardium).

In between the parietal and visceral pericardial layers there is a potential space
Potential space

In anatomy, potential space refers to a space or cavity that can exist because two adjacent features that are not tightly adjoined, but does not appear during normal functioning....
 called the pericardial cavity
Pericardial cavity

The pericardial cavity is a potential space between the parietal pericardium and visceral layer. It contains a supply of serous fluid. The serous fluid that is found in this space is known as the pericardial fluid....
. It is normally lubricated by a film of pericardial fluid. Too much fluid in the cavity (such as in a pericardial effusion
Pericardial effusion

Pericardial effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity. Because of the limited amount of space in the pericardial cavity, fluid accumulation will lead to an increased intrapericardial pressure and this can negatively affect heart function....
) can result in pericardial tamponade (compression of the heart within the pericardial sac). A pericardectomy is sometimes needed in these cases.

Diseases/Abnormalities

  • Pericarditis
    Pericarditis

    Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium . Pericarditis is further classified according to the composition of the inflammatory exudate: serous, purulent, fibrinous, caseous, and hemorrhagic types are distinguished....
     resulting in pericardial friction rub
    Pericardial friction rub

    A pericardial friction rub, also pericardial rub, is an audible medical sign used in the medical diagnosis of pericarditis. Upon auscultation, this sign is an extra heart sound of to-and-fro character, typically with three components, one systole and two diastole....
  • Pericardial effusion
    Pericardial effusion

    Pericardial effusion is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the pericardial cavity. Because of the limited amount of space in the pericardial cavity, fluid accumulation will lead to an increased intrapericardial pressure and this can negatively affect heart function....
     which may lead to cardiac tamponade
    Cardiac tamponade

    Cardiac tamponade, also known as pericardial tamponade, is an medical emergency condition in which fluid accumulates in the pericardium . If the fluid significantly elevates the pressure on the heart it will prevent the Ventricle from filling properly....
    .


Religious Symbolism

The 10th century CE Islamic mystic Hallaj described God as He "who flows between the pericardium and the heart, just as the tears flow from the eyelids."

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