Chapter 19, Problem 2BYGO

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

The heart is surrounded by a double-walled sac called pericardium. The gross anatomical structure of pericardium reveals that it consists of an outer pericardial sac named parietal pericardium, which is made of a tough superficial fibrous layer and a thin deep serous layer. The innermost serous layer gives of visceral pericardium or epicardium. There is a space or cavity named pericardial cavity that lies in between the serous layer of pericardium and innermost epicardium. This cavity is filled with pericardial fluid. There is nearly about 30 to 50 mL of clear, straw-colored pericardial fluid in an average adult heart. Pericardial fluid consists of mainly lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as its main constituent with other proteins and lymphocytes.