serous pericardium

(noun)

Located deeper than the fibrous pericardium, this structure contains two layers that lubricate the heart to prevent friction from occurring during heart activity.

Related Terms

Examples of serous pericardium in the following topics:

  • Pericardium

    • The pericardium is composed of two layers, an outer fibrous pericardium and an inner serous pericardium.
    • The fibrous pericardium is the outer layer of the pericardium.
    • The serous pericardium, the inner layer of the pericardium, is composed of two different layers.
    • The space between these two serous layers, the parietal and the visceral, is the pericardial cavity, which contains pericardial fluid.
    • The serous pericardium, with its two membranes and the fluid-filled pericardial cavity, provides protection to the heart and a lubricated sliding surface within which the heart can move in response to its own contractions and to the movement of adjacent structures such as the diaphragm and the lungs.

  • Ascending Aorta

    • The ascending aorta is contained within the pericardium.
    • It is enclosed in a tube of the serous pericardium, which also encloses the pulmonary artery.
    • The ascending aorta is covered at its beginning by the trunk of the pulmonary artery and, higher up, is separated from the sternum by the pericardium, the right pleura, the anterior margin of the right lung, some loose areolar tissue, and the remains of the thymus.

  • Serosa

    • In anatomy, serous membrane (or serosa) is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells, which secrete serous fluid, and a thin connective tissue layer .
    • Serous membranes line and enclose several body cavities, known as serous cavities, where they secrete a lubricating fluid that reduces friction from muscle movement.
    • For the heart, the surrounding serous membranes include: outer, inner, parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium (epicardium).
    • The serous cavities are formed from the intraembryonic coelom and are basically an empty space within the body surrounded by serous membrane.
    • Therefore each organ becomes surrounded by serous membrane - they do not lie within the serous cavity.

  • Layers of the Heart Walls

    • The epicardium refers to both the outer layer of the heart and the inner layer of the serous visceral pericardium, which is attached to the outer wall of the heart.
    • The epicardium is a thin layer of elastic connective tissue and fat that serves as an additional layer of protection from trauma or friction for the heart under the pericardium.

  • Serous Membranes

    • Serous membranes line and enclose serous cavities, where they secrete a lubricating fluid which reduces friction from muscle movement.
    • In anatomy, a serous membrane (or serosa) is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells, which secrete serous fluid, and a thin connective tissue layer.
    • The serous cavities are formed from the intraembryonic coelom and are basically an empty space within the body, surrounded by serous membrane.
    • Therefore, each organ becomes surrounded by serous membrane; they do not lie within the serous cavity.
    • The pleural and pericardial cavities are exaggerated since normally there is no space between parietal and visceral pleura and between pericardium and heart.

  • Pericarditis

    • Pericarditis is a swelling of the pericardium, the protective, fibrous sac surrounding the heart.
    • Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is the fibrous sac surrounding the heart .
    • The causes of pericarditis are varied, including viral infections of the pericardium, idiopathic causes, uremic pericarditis, bacterial infections of the pericardium (e.g., Mycobacterium tuberculosis), post-infarct pericarditis (pericarditis due to heart attack), or Dressler's pericarditis.
    • This can be seen in patients who are experiencing the classic signs of pericarditis but then show signs of relief, and progress to show signs of cardiac tamponade which include decreased alertness and lethargy, pulsus paradoxus (decrease of at least 10 mmHg of the systolic blood pressure upon inspiration), hypotension (due to decreased cardiac index), JVD (jugular vein distention from right sided heart failure and fluid overload), distant heart sounds on auscultation, and equilibration of all the diastolic blood pressures on cardiac catheterization due to the constriction of the pericardium by the fluid.
    • In such cases of cardiac tamponade, EKG or Holter monitor will then depict electrical alterans indicating wobbling of the heart in the fluid filled pericardium, and the capillary refill might decrease, as well as severe vascular collapse and altered mental status due to hypoperfusion of body organs by a heart that cannot pump out blood effectively.

  • Body Cavity Membranes

    • The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities: the pleura (thoracic cavity), peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery) and pericardium (heart sac).
    • The mesothelium is composed of an extensive monolayer of specialized cells (mesothelial cells) that line the body's serous cavities and internal organs.
    • The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom—it covers most of the intra-abdominal (or coelomic) organs—in amniotes and some invertebrates (annelids, for instance).

  • Anatomy of the Heart

    • The heart is enclosed in a double-walled protective membrane called the pericardium, which is a mesothelium tissue of the thoracic cavity.
    • The double membrane of pericardium contains pericardial fluid which nourishes the heart and prevents shock.
    • The outer layer is called the epicardium, or visceral pericardium, since it is also the inner wall of the pericardium.

  • The Peritoneum

    • The peritoneum, the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity, covers most of the intra-abdominal organs.
    • The peritoneum is the serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity or the coelom.
    • It is filled with a small amount of slippery serous fluid that allows the two layers to slide freely over each other.

  • Histology of the Small Intestine

    • The outermost layer of the intestine, the serosa, is a smooth membrane consisting of a thin layer of cells, which secrete serous fluid, and a thin layer of connective tissue.
    • Serous fluid is a lubricating fluid which reduces friction from the movement of the muscularis.