Epicardium
Encyclopedia
Epicardium describes the outer layer of heart
tissue (from Greek
; epi- outer, cardium heart). When considered as a part of the pericardium
, it is the inner layer, or visceral pericardium, continuous with the serous layer.
Its largest constituent is connective tissue
and functions as a protective layer.
The visceral pericardium apparently produces the pericardial fluid
, which lubricates motion between the inner and outer layers of the pericardium
.
During ventricular contraction, the wave of depolarization moves from endocardial to epicardial surface.
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
tissue (from Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
; epi- outer, cardium heart). When considered as a part of the pericardium
Pericardium
The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels.-Layers:...
, it is the inner layer, or visceral pericardium, continuous with the serous layer.
Its largest constituent is connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
and functions as a protective layer.
The visceral pericardium apparently produces the pericardial fluid
Pericardial fluid
Surrounding the heart is a sac known as the pericardium, which consists of two membranes. The outer layer being the fibrous parietal pericardium and the inner layer being the serous visceral pericardium. It is the serous visceral pericardium that secretes the pericardial fluid into the pericardial...
, which lubricates motion between the inner and outer layers of the pericardium
Pericardium
The pericardium is a double-walled sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels.-Layers:...
.
During ventricular contraction, the wave of depolarization moves from endocardial to epicardial surface.
See also
- Myocardium - The middle (muscle) layer of the heart
- EndocardiumEndocardiumThe endocardium is the innermost layer of tissue that lines the chambers of the heart. Its cells are embryologically and biologically similar to the endothelial cells that line blood vessels....
- The innermost layer of the heart
External links
- http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/embryology/cvs/heart_tube.html - "MRI of chest, lateral view"