pericardium (redirected from Serous pericardium)

pericardium /peri·car·di·um/ (-kahr´de-um) the fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the roots of the great vessels.pericar´dial

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adherent pericardium  one abnormally connected with the heart by dense fibrous tissue.

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per·i·car·di·um (pr-kärd-m)

n. pl. per·i·car·di·a (-d-)

The fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the roots of the great vessels, consisting of two layers: the visceral layer or epicardium, immediately surrounding the heart; and the outer parietal layer, which forms the sac and is lined with a serous membrane. Also called heart sac, theca cordis.

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peri·cardi·al (-d-l), peri·cardi·ac (-d-k) adj.

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Pericardium

The pericardium is the thin, sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart. It has two layers: the serous pericardium and the fibrous pericardium.

Mentioned in: Coccidioidomycosis, Pericardiocentesis, Pericarditis, Thoracic Surgery

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pericardium

[per′ikär′dē·əm] pl. pericardia

Etymology: Gk, peri + kardia, heart

a fibroserous sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels. It consists of the serous pericardium and the fibrous pericardium. The serous pericardium consists of the parietal layer, which lines the inside of the fibrous pericardium, and the visceral layer, which adheres to the surface of the heart. Between the two layers is the pericardial space, which contains a few drops of pericardial fluid to lubricate opposing surfaces of the space and allow the heart to move easily during contraction. Injury or disease may cause fluid to accumulate in the space, causing a wide separation between the heart and the outer pericardium. The fibrous pericardium, which constitutes the outermost sac and is composed of tough, white fibrous tissue lined by the parietal layer of the serous pericardium, fits loosely around the heart and attaches to large blood vessels emerging from the top of the heart but not to the heart itself. It is relatively inelastic and protects the heart and the serous membranes. If pericardial fluid or pus accumulates in the pericardial space, the fibrous pericardium cannot stretch, causing a rapid increase of pressure around the heart. pericardial, adj.

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pericardium (per´ikärdēm),

n a fibroserous sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels.

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pericardium

the fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the roots of the great vessels, composed of external (fibrous) and internal (serous) layers. See also pericardial.

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adherent pericardium

one abnormally connected with the heart by dense fibrous tissue.

congenitally absent pericardium

the heart lies free in the pleural sac; recorded in dogs.

fibrous pericardium

the external layer of the pericardium, consisting of dense fibrous tissue.

parietal pericardium

the parietal layer of the serous pericardium, which is in contact with the fibrous pericardium.

serous pericardium

the inner, serous portion of pericardium, consisting of two layers, visceral and parietal; the space between the layers is the pericardial cavity.

visceral pericardium

the inner layer of the serous pericardium, which is intimately attached to the heart and roots of the great vessels. Called also epicardium.