Research Notes on Pericardium
The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels. There are two layers to the pericardial sac: the fibrous pericardium and the serous pericardium. 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 in fact epicardium, or the outer surface of the heart muscle (the myocardium). ...read more at Wikipedia
Fast Facts:
- Protects the heart and reduces friction between the heart and surrounding organs.1
- Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardium; occurs in men between the ages of 20 to 50.2
- Keeps heart contained in the cavity and prevents heart from overexpanding when blood volume increases.3
Top Resources on Pericardium
- UpToDate: Heart Anatomy - The Pericardium Of The Heart
- A.D.A.M. (via University Of Maryland Medical Center): Pericardium
- American Heart Association (AMA): Pericardium And Pericarditis
- About.com: What Is The Pericardium?
- Stedman's Medical Dictionary (via WebMD): Pericardium
- O'Rahilly (via Dartmouth Medical School): The Pericardium And Heart
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Research Notes References
- ↑ UpToDate: Heart Anatomy - The Pericardium Of The Heart
- ↑ American Heart Association (AMA): Pericardium And Pericarditis
- ↑ About.com: What Is The Pericardium?
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About this WisdomCard
- Contributor: Carolyn DeLucas
- Reviewer: Tara
- Supervised by: The OrganizedWisdom Physician Review Team
- Last update: Oct. 2, 2008
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