pericardium

Question 1

What is the pericardium?

Answer 1

Fluid filled sac that surrounds the heart and the great vessels

Question 2

What are the divisions of the pericardium?

Answer 2

fibrous pericardium

serous pericardium

Question 3

what is the fibrous pericardium?

Answer 3

outermost layer adjacent to pleural cavity

Question 4

What is the serous pericardium?

Answer 4

composed of two layers

continuous with root vessels to create pericardial layer

Question 5

What are the layers of the serous pericardium?

Answer 5

parietal layer

visceral layer

Question 6

What is the parietal layer?

Answer 6

lines the surface of the parietal pericardium

Question 7

What is the visceral pericardium?

Answer 7

directly adheres to the heart

Question 8

Why is the movement of the heart uninhibited?

Answer 8

reflections in the fluid filled serous pericardium make it continuous and a pericardial cavity

Question 9

What is the mesocardium?

Answer 9

membrane that connects the heart to the posterior body wall

Question 10

What are the parts of the mesocardium?

Answer 10

dorsal mesocardium

visceral mesocardium

Question 11

What does the dorsal mesocardium connect?

Answer 11

all veins to posterior body wall

venae cavae and pulmonary veins

Question 12

What does the visceral mesocardium connect?

Answer 12

the two major arteries leaving the heart

aorta & pulmonary trunk

Question 13

What are the sinuses created via the reflection of the serous pericardium?

Answer 13

oblique pericardial sinus

transverse pericardial sinus

Question 14

What is the oblique pericardial sinus?

Answer 14

this is a blind-end space on the posterior aspect of the heart; found between the pulmonary veins and created solely by the dorsal mesocardium.

Question 15

What is the transverse pericardial sinus?

Answer 15

created between the two mesocardia posterior to the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk anterior to the SVC

Question 16

where can a finger be placed if the pericardium is opened for surgery?

Answer 16

on the transverse pericardium sinus

separates the veins and arteries and is a good place to pinch off blood flow

Question 17

Which sinus is a potential space for bacterial accumulation?

Answer 17

oblique pericardial sinus

because it has a minimal amount of fluid flow

Question 18

What innervates the pericardium?

Answer 18

vagus nn
sympathetic trunk
phrenic nerve

Question 19

Why is pain to the pericardium is referred to the supraclavicular region of the shoulder or lateral neck?

Answer 19

because the somatsensory is carried by the phrenic nerve

so it will be felt in those areas