L4.2.1: Coverings of the Heart

• COVERINGS OF THE HEART

  ● Pericardium is a double-walled sac that encloses the heart

  ○ Outer fibrous layer

  ○ Inner serous membranes; parietal and visceral pericardium
• LAYERS OF PERICARDIUM

  1. Fibrous Pericardium
  2. Parietal Serous Pericardium
  3. Visceral Serous Pericardium — “EPICARDIUM”
• LAYERS OF PERICARDIUM

  1. Fibrous Pericardium

  ○ Loosely fitting superficial part of the sac

  ○ Helps protect the heart and anchors it to surrounding structures like the diaphragm and sternum
• LAYERS OF PERICARDIUM

  2. Parietal Serous Pericardium

  ○ Outside layer of slippery serous pericardium

  ○ Lines the interior of the fibrous pericardium
• LAYERS OF PERICARDIUM

  3. Visceral Serous Pericardium — “EPICARDIUM”

  ○ Next to the heart

  ○ Innermost layer of the pericardium and the outermost layer of the heart wall
• LAYERS OF PERICARDIUM 3. Visceral Serous Pericardium — “EPICARDIUM”

  ● Serous fluid

  ○ Produced by the serous pericardial membranes and collects in the pericardial activity between the serous layers

  ○ Allows frictionless environment for the heart to beat easily as the serous pericardial layers slide smoothly across each other