pericardium
Quick Summary
The pericardium is a membranous sac that encloses the heart. It consists of a strong outer fibrous layer and a smooth inner serous membrane. The fibrous pericardium attaches to surrounding structures like the diaphragm and sternum, while the serous membrane folds back to cover the heart itself, forming the visceral pericardium (or epicardium) and the parietal pericardium. Between these serous layers is the pericardial cavity, which normally contains a small amount of pericardial fluid. This fluid lubricates the membranes, allowing them to glide smoothly against each other with each heartbeat.1
Diseases of the pericardium, such as pericarditis (inflammation of the sac), can cause pain and potentially lead to cardiac tamponade if fluid accumulates rapidly, compressing the heart. Chronic constrictive pericarditis, caused by scar tissue, can restrict the heart's ability to fill with blood. The pericardium is located within the thoracic cavity, the space between the ribs, vertebral column, and sternum, separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm.23
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cardiovascular diseaseChronic constrictive pericarditisChronic constrictive pericarditis can affect the surface of the heart and the sac (pericardium) surrounding it. The pericardium becomes thickened and fibrotic, and over a period of time it constricts the heart so that the normal filling of the ventricles during the resting phase of the cardiac…
Read MoreChronic constrictive pericarditis can affect the surface of the heart and the sac (pericardium) surrounding it. The pericardium becomes thickened and fibrotic, and over a period of time it constricts the heart so that the normal filling of the ventricles during the resting phase of the cardiac…
Read More- cardiovascular diseaseRheumatic heart disease
…lining), myocardium (heart muscle), and pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart) that occurs during acute rheumatic fever, an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes organisms. The disease includes those later developments that persist after the acute process has subsided and that may result in damage to a valve, which may in…
Read More…lining), myocardium (heart muscle), and pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart) that occurs during acute rheumatic fever, an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes organisms. The disease includes those later developments that persist after the acute process has subsided and that may result in damage to a valve, which may in…
Read More - auscultation
…peculiar to inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
Read More…peculiar to inflammation of the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.
Read More - pericarditis
pericardium, the membranous sac that encloses the heart. Acute pericarditis may be associated with a number of diseases and conditions, including myocardial infarction (heart attack), uremia (abnormally high levels of urea and other nitrogenous waste products in the blood), allergic disorders, and infections such as…
Read Morepericardium, the membranous sac that encloses the heart. Acute pericarditis may be associated with a number of diseases and conditions, including myocardial infarction (heart attack), uremia (abnormally high levels of urea and other nitrogenous waste products in the blood), allergic disorders, and infections such as…
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circulatory systemHearts…a large surrounding sinus, the pericardium. The heart may be suspended by alary muscles, contraction of which expands the heart and increases blood flow into it. The direction of flow is controlled by valves arranged in front of the in-current ostia.
Read More…a large surrounding sinus, the pericardium. The heart may be suspended by alary muscles, contraction of which expands the heart and increases blood flow into it. The direction of flow is controlled by valves arranged in front of the in-current ostia.
Read More- cardiovascular diseaseDiseases of the pericardium
Pericardial disease may occur as an isolated process or as a subordinate and unsuspected manifestation of a disease elsewhere in the body. Acute pericarditis—inflammation of the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart)—may result from invasion of the pericardium by one of a number…
Read MorePericardial disease may occur as an isolated process or as a subordinate and unsuspected manifestation of a disease elsewhere in the body. Acute pericarditis—inflammation of the pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart)—may result from invasion of the pericardium by one of a number…
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heart…thin layer of tissue, the pericardium, covers the outside, and another layer, the endocardium, lines the inside. The heart cavity is divided down the middle into a right and a left heart, which in turn are subdivided into two chambers. The upper chamber is called an atrium (or auricle), and…
Read More…thin layer of tissue, the pericardium, covers the outside, and another layer, the endocardium, lines the inside. The heart cavity is divided down the middle into a right and a left heart, which in turn are subdivided into two chambers. The upper chamber is called an atrium (or auricle), and…
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human cardiovascular systemPericardiumThe heart is suspended in its own membranous sac, the pericardium. The strong outer portion of the sac, or fibrous pericardium, is firmly attached to the diaphragm below, the mediastinal pleura on the side, and the sternum in front. It gradually blends with the…
Read MoreThe heart is suspended in its own membranous sac, the pericardium. The strong outer portion of the sac, or fibrous pericardium, is firmly attached to the diaphragm below, the mediastinal pleura on the side, and the sternum in front. It gradually blends with the…
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history of medicineHeart surgery…Larrey in 1824); and the pericardium could be partially excised for constrictive pericarditis when it was inflamed and constricted the movement of the heart (this operation was performed by Rehn and Sauerbruch in 1913). But little beyond these procedures found acceptance.
Read More…Larrey in 1824); and the pericardium could be partially excised for constrictive pericarditis when it was inflamed and constricted the movement of the heart (this operation was performed by Rehn and Sauerbruch in 1913). But little beyond these procedures found acceptance.
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Daniel Hale Williams…first recorded repair of the pericardium; some sources, however, cite a similar operation performed by H.C. Dalton of St. Louis in 1891.
Read More…first recorded repair of the pericardium; some sources, however, cite a similar operation performed by H.C. Dalton of St. Louis in 1891.
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