====== PERICARDIUM ====== * Pericardium * fibrous pericardium * made up of conical sac of fibrous tissue * attached to its surface * parietal layer of serous pericardium * features * apex is blunt * lies at the level of sternal angle * fused with roots of great vessels and with pretracheal fascia * base is broad and inseparably blended with central tendon of diaphragm * posteriorly * principal bronchi * oesophagus with nerve plexus * descending thoracic aorta * anteriorly * sternopericardial ligaments * connects to upper and lower ends of body of sternum * superior and inferior ligaments * each side * mediastinal pleura * mediastinal surface of lung * phrenic nerve * pericardiophrenic vessels * protects heart * sudden overfilling * overexpansion of heart * serous pericardium * thin double layered * serous membrane * lined by mesothelium * outer layer * parietal pericardium * fused with fibrous pericardium * inner layer * visceral pericardium * epicardium fused to heart * except along cardiac grooves * the two layers are continuous * pericardial cavity * pericardial fluid * sinuses of pericardium * transverse sinus * arterial tubes * encloses ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk * at arterial end * venous tubes * encloses venacava and pulmonary veins * at venous end * oblique sinus * narrow gap behind the heart * anteriorly by left atrium * posteriorly by parietal pericardium and esophagus * contents of pericardium * heart with cardiac vessels and nerves * ascending aorta * pulmonary trunk * lower half of superior venacava * terminal part of inferior venacava * terminal part of pulmonary veins * blood supply * internal thoracic artery * musculophrenic artery * descending thoracic aorta * veins drain in to corresponding veins * nerve supply * fibrous and serous pericardium * phrenic nerves * pericarditis pain originates in epicardium * angina or cardiac pain * originates in cardiac muscles of vessels of heart {{:anatomy:pericardium-cut.png}} {{:anatomy:pericardium.png}}