7: Pericardial structure and function

Published on 02/03/2015 by admin

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Last modified 02/03/2015

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Topic 7 Pericardial structure and function

The normal pericardium is ~2 mm thick, and consists of three layers: the outer fibrous pericardium, and the inner serous pericardium, which is divided into visceral and parietal layers. The visceral serous pericardium forms the epicardial surface, and the parietal serous pericardium lines the fibrous pericardium.

The visceral serous pericardium covers the left and right ventricles, and right atrium. It extends over the first 1–2 cm of the great vessels entering and leaving the heart, before reflecting back as the parietal serous pericardium. Posterior to the left atrium, the reflection occurs at the oblique sinus, leaving the posterior aspect of the left atrium as extrapericardial (see Figure 7.1).

Figure 7.1 Schematic of the pericardial anatomy and reflections on the posterior aspect of the normal heart.

The pericardial space normally contains <50 ml of serous fluid. An increase in pericardial fluid volume is known as a pericardial effusion.

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