Pericardium Flashcards
What structures are included in the middle mediastinum?
The pericardium, heart, and roots of its great vessels (ascending aorta, pulmonary trunk, SVC)
SVC stands for superior vena cava.
What is the pericardium?
A fibroserous membrane covering the heart and the beginning of its great vessels.
How many layers compose the pericardium?
Two layers: fibrous pericardium and serous pericardium.
What is the fibrous pericardium?
The tough external layer of the pericardium, continuous with the central tendon of the diaphragm.
What lines the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium?
The parietal layer of serous pericardium.
What forms the visceral layer of serous pericardium?
It is encircling onto the heart at the great vessels.
What is mesothelium?
A single layer of flattened cells forming an epithelium lining both the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium and the external surface of the heart.
What is the pericardiacophrenic ligament?
A site of continuity between the fibrous pericardium and the central tendon of the diaphragm.
Where are the heart and roots of the great vessels located?
Posterior to the sternum, costal cartilages, and anterior ends of the 3rd–5th ribs on the left side.
What is the orientation of the heart relative to the median plane?
Approximately two thirds to the left and one third to the right.
True or False: The fibrous pericardium allows for sudden overfilling of the heart.
False.
What does the pericardial cavity contain?
A thin film of fluid enabling the heart to move in a frictionless environment.
The visceral layer of serous pericardium forms which layer of the heart wall?
Epicardium.
What defines the transverse pericardial sinus?
A transversely running passage within the pericardial cavity between two groups of vessels.
What is the oblique pericardial sinus?
a wide pocket-like recess in the pericardial cavity posterior to the base of the heart, formed by the left atrium
What arteries primarily supply the pericardium?
- Pericardiacophrenic artery (most blood suplly)
- Musculophrenic artery
- Bronchial arteries
- Esophageal arteries
- Superior phrenic arteries
- Coronary arteries
What is the primary source of venous drainage for the pericardium?
- Pericardiacophrenic veins, tributaries of the brachiocephalic veins.
- azygos venous system
Which nerves supply the pericardium?
- Phrenic nerves (C3–C5)
- Vagus nerves
- Sympathetic trunks
Fill in the blank: The pericardium is influenced by movements of the ______, great vessels, sternum, and diaphragm.
[heart]
What happens to the heart and great vessels during development?
The folding of the primordial heart tube forms the pericardial sinuses. and than the transverse pericardial sinus.
What is the significance of the fibrous pericardium’s attachment to surrounding structures?
It helps tether the heart in place within the pericardial sac.
True or False: The oblique pericardial sinus is an open structure.
False.
