PERICARDIUM

PERICARDIUM:

o   A fibro-serous sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels is called pericardium.

o   It consists of:

-         Fibrous pericardium

-         Serous pericardium

a. FIBROUS PERICARDIUM:

·       composes tough, white fibrous tissue.

·       Fits loosely around the heart and protects it.

b. SEROUS PERICARDIUM:

·        is thin, smooth sac protecting the heart.

·        has 2 layers:

-         parietal layer:  lines inside of fibrous pericardium.

-         visceral layer: adheres to the surface of heart.

PERICARDIAL SPACE:

o   the space between the fibrous and serous pericardium is called the pericardial space.

o   It contains pericardial fluid that lubricates the space so as to help the easy movement of heart during contractions.