The conical sac of fibrous tissue that
surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels. The
pericardium's outer coat (the parietal pericardium) is tough and
thickened, loosely cloaks the heart, and is attached to the central
part of the diaphragm and the back of the breastbone. Its inner coat
(the visceral pericardium or epicardium) is double, with one layer
closely adherent to the heart and the other lining the inner surface
of the outer coat. The intervening space between these layers is
filled with pericardial fluid. This small amount of fluid acts as a lubricant to allow normal heart movement within the chest.
Also known as the pericardial sac. See also: Pericarditis.
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