Pericardium


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Pericardium


Illustration of Pericardium

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

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.

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Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
Last Updated July 9, 2008

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