Health Encyclopedia

Pericardium

Pericardium

The pericardium is a membrane like a sac that surrounds the heart and its major blood vessels. Normally there is a small amount of fluid between the pericardium and the heart that helps cushion the heart and reduces friction between the heart and the pericardium when the heart beats.

Last Revised: April 5, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology

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