The pericardium is a fibroserous sac that surrounds the heart and roots of the great vessels. It consists of the fibrous pericardium and serous pericardium. The fibrous pericardium is a conical sac made of fibrous tissue that protects the heart. The serous pericardium is a double-layered membrane that forms the pericardial sac, with fluid allowing the heart to move smoothly. The pericardium contains the heart, vessels, and parts of the great vessels, and has transverse and oblique sinuses.

1. The Pericardium
By: Sathish Rajamani
Asst Professor

3. PERICARDIUM
• The pericardium is a fibroserous sac which
encloses the heart and the roots of the great
vessels.
• It is situated in the middle mediastinum. It
consists of the fibrous pericardium and t.he
serous pericardium

5. • Fibrous pericardium encloses the heart and
fuses with the vessels which enter/leave the
heart.
• Heart is situated within the fibrous and
serous pericardial sacs.

7. Fibrous Pericardium
• Fibrous pericardium is a conical sac made
up of fibrous tissue.
• The apex is blunt and lies at the level of the
sternal angle.
• The base is broad and inseparably blended
with the central tendon of the diaphragm.
• It protects the heart against sudden
overfilling.

8. Serous Pericardium
• Serous pericardium is thin, double-layered serous
membrane lined by mesothelium.
• The outer layer of parietal pericardium is fused with
the fibrous pericardium.
• The inner layer or the visceral pericardium, or
epicardium is fused to the heart, except along the
cardiac gooves, where it is separated from the heart
by blood vessels.
• The two layers are continuous with each other at the
roots of the great vessels, i.e. ascending aorta,
pulmonary trunk, two venae cavae, and four
pulmonary veins.

9. Serous Pericardium (Cont)
• The pericardial cavityis a potential space
between the parietal pericardium and the
visceral pericardium.
• It contains only a thin film of serous fluid
which lubricates the apposed surfaces and
allows the heart to move smoothly.

10. CONTENTS OF THE
PERICARDIUM
• Heart with cardiac vessels and nerves.
• Ascending aorta.
• Pulmonary trunk
• lower half of the
• Superior vena cava
• Terminal part of the inferior vena cava.
• The terminal parts of the pulmonary veins.

11. PERICARDIAL SINUSES

12. SINUSES
• The sinuses are the connected systems
of a hollow cavities.
• Pericardial Sinuses are two types:
–Transverse Sinuses
–Oblique Sinuses

13. TRANSVERSE SINUSES
• It is a horizontal gap between the
arterial end of the heart tubes in front
and venus ends behind.
• Anterior: Ascending aorta and
Pulmonary trunk
• Posterior: SVC
• On each side it opens into Pericardial
Cavity,

14. TRANSVERSE SINUSES

15. OBLIQUE SINUS
• It is a narrow gap behind the heart.
• Cul – De – Sac / Cardiac Sac
• Anteriorly – Left Atrium
• Posteriorly – Parietal Pericardium
• Right and Left Side – Reflections of
Pericardium
• Below to the left – Opens into the
pericardial cavity

16. OBLIQUE SINUS

17. BLOOD SUPPLY
• The fibrous and parietal pericardia are
supplied by branches from: internal
thoracic, and musculophrenic arteries, and
the descending thoracic aorta.

18. NERVE SUPPLY
• The fibrous and parietal pericardia are
supplied by the phrenic nerve. They are
sensitive to pain.
• The epicardium is supplied by autonomic
nerves of the heart, and is not sensitive to
pain.

19. APPLIED ANATOMY
• Pericarditis – inflammation of the
pericardium
• Pericardial Effusion – Excess fluid within
pericardial sac.
• Constrictive Pericarditis – Abnormal
thickening of the pericardium compressing
the heart and impair its function.