Pericardium

Pericardium is a thin, conical, fibroelastic sac or a membrane surrounding heart and its great vessels.Definition of PERICARDIUM". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2021-08-10.

Various functions of the pericardium include preventing dislocation of heart by maintaining its original position, providing mechanical support to the heart and its great vessels and act as a lubrication, to lessen friction between the heart and the neighboring structures.

Gross anatomy

Anatomically It has two main parts fibrous pericardium and serous pericardium.thumb|Pericardium surrounding the heart
 Histology 
Histologically, pericardium consists of three layers: the serosa, the fibrosa, and an outer layer of epipericardial connective tissue.
Pericardial fluid is present in between these two layers.
The parietal pericardium (thickness 0.8–1 mm) consists of an outer fibrous connective tissue sac lined by serosa. The serosa comprises unilayer mesothelium (which is responsible for the formation and reabsorption of pericardial fluid) . It is surrounded by variable amount of fatty tissues, particularly in the cardiophrenic angles.Structure of the Human Pericardium and Responses to Pathologic Processes". American College of Cardiology. Retrieved 2021-08-11

The pericardial sac consists of two pericardial sinuses namely oblique sinus and transverse sinus.

 Clinical anatomy 
Pericardial effusion is clinical conditions characterized by excessive pericardial fluids in between the parietal and visceral layers. Pericardiocentesis is a clinical procedure  carried out to remove excessive fluid that has built up in a  pericardium."Pericardiocentesis". hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved 10 August 2021 The inflammation of pericardium is called pericarditis.

Related pages
 Pericarditis

References

Category:Heart
Category:Anatomy of the cardiovascular system
Category:Cardiovascular system