pericardium

Term: pericardium

Literally meaning: “around the heart”

Origin: Anc Greek

περί-/peri- (=combining form meaning “around”)

+ καρδία /kardia (=heart) > derived according Meletios(7th-8th cen AD) probably from verb >κραδαίνω/kradeno (=rattle, rock)

+um =latin suffix that forms singular nouns

Coined/History

Definition

The pericardium is a double-walled sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels. Pericardium is consists of an outer tough coat (the parietal pericardium) and an inner thin coat (the epicardium). The intervening space between these layers is filled with pericardial fluid.