Pericardium

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pericardium \Per`i*car"di*um\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. perika`rdion,
     fr. perika`rdios about or near the heart; peri` about +
     kardi`a heart.] (Anat.)
     The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the
     heart.
     [1913 Webster]


  
     Note: The inner layer is closely adherent to the outer
           surface of the heart, and is called the cardiac
           pericardium. The outer layer loosely incloses the heart
           and the adherent inner layer, and is called the
           parietal pericardium. At the base of the heart the two
           layers are continuous, and form a narrow closed cavity
           filled with fluid, in which the pulsations of the heart
           cause little friction.
           [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  pericardium
       n : a double-layered serous membrane that surrounds the heart
       [also: {pericardia} (pl)]