The pericardium and layers of the heart wall Flashcards
What are the layers of the pericardium?
Inner visceral
Outer parietal
Outermost fibrous
Which layers are serous layers?
Parietal and visceral
Where does the pericardial cavity lie?
Between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium
What is are the 3 layers of the heart wall?
Inner - endocardium
Middle - myocardium
Outer - epicardium
What is endocardium composed of?
Single layer of simple squamous epithelium
What is the myocardium composed of?
Many layers of cardiac muscle
What is the epicardium composed of?
Single layer simple squamous epithelium
Which pericardial layer also forms part of the heart wall?
Visceral layer
What does the fibrous pericardium do?
Stop the heart from bulging outwards/expanding too much
How does cardiac tamponade occur?
When excess fluid accumulates in the pericardial cavity
What can cardia tamponade lead to and why?
Cardiac failure - increased pressure exerted by the excess fluid on the heart impedes normal filling of the heart
Where does the visceral pericardium receive its innervation from?
Autonomic innervation from T1-4
Vagus via cardiac plexus
What innervated the parietal and fibrous pericardium?
Phrenic nerve
Which layers of the pericardium are innervated by pain fibres?
Fibrous and parietal
What arteries supply the parietal and fibrous pericardium?
Internal thoracic artery
