Pericardium
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The pericardium is a set of sacs and spaces that surround the heart and the base of its great blood vessels, the aorta, vena cavae, and pulmonary artery. There are two sacs, the outer fibrous pericardium and the inner serous pericardium. The latter consists of an outer parietal layer facing the fibrous pericardium, and an inner visceral layer (epicardium) resting next to the heart, and a pericardial cavity between these two layers. [1]
Approximately 50ml of pericardial fluid fills the cavity and wets the layers, but excessive fluid production is pathological. [2]
Inflammation of the pericardium is pericarditis.
References
- ↑ Anonymous (2024), Pericardium (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ EA Ashley and J Niebauer (2004), Pericardial Disease, Cardiology Explained