Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Pericardium
Perˊi-car′di-um
,Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr.
περικάρδιον
, fr. περικάρδιοσ
about or near the heart; περί
about + καρδία
heart.] (Anat.)
The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.
☞ 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.