What is epicardium of the heart?
Epicardium. It is directly fused with the myocardium internally and is in contact with the serous layer of the pericardium. It is sometimes considered as a division of the inner layer of the pericardium. It is comprised mainly of connective tissue and protectively encompasses the heart.
Why is the epicardium called visceral pericardium?
It is also known as visceral pericardium as it forms the inner layer of the pericardium. The epicardium is composed primarily of loose connective tissue, including elastic fibers and adipose tissue. The epicardium functions to protect the inner heart layers and also assists in the production of pericardial fluid.
Which layer of the epicardium is in direct contact with the myocardium?
The inner layer of the epicardium is in direct contact with the myocardium. Myocardium (myo-cardium) is the middle layer of the heart wall. It is composed of cardiac muscle fibers, which enable heart contractions. The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart wall, with its thickness varying in different parts of the heart.
What is the pericardium made of?
It is actually the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, which adheres to the myocardium of the heart. Histologically, it is made of mesothelial cells, the same as the parietal pericardium.
Which structure is known as epicardium?
Epicardium (epi-cardium) is the outer layer of the heart wall. It is also known as visceral pericardium as it forms the inner layer of the pericardium. The epicardium is composed primarily of loose connective tissue, including elastic fibers and adipose tissue.
What is another name for the epicardium quizlet?
The parietal pericardium is also called the epicardium.
Why is it called epicardium?
The pericardium, also called pericardial sac, is a double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels....PericardiumLocationA sac around the heartArteryPericardiacophrenic arteryNervePhrenic nerveIdentifiers10 more rows
Why is epicardium called visceral pericardium?
The word "pericardium" means around the heart. The outer layer of the pericardium is called the parietal pericardium. The inner part of the pericardium that closely envelops the heart is, as stated, the epicardium; it is also called the visceral pericardium.
What is another name for epicardium?
visceral pericardiumThe inner part of the pericardium that closely envelops the heart is, as stated, the epicardium; it is also called the visceral pericardium.
What is the epicardium quizlet?
Epicardium - the outer layer of the wall of the heart. It is composed of connective tissue covered by epithelium. The epicardium is also known as the visceral pericardium.
Is epicardium a part of pericardium?
The pericardium is a thin-walled structure composed of two layers, a serous visceral layer (epicardium) and a fibrous parietal layer, both of which surround and protect the heart.
Is epicardium the inner layer?
The walls of the heart are composed of three layers: Epicardium - the outer layer. Myocardium - the middle, muscular layer. Endocardium - the inner layer.
Is the visceral pericardium the epicardium?
The layer of mesothelium investing the outer surface of the heart is referred to as the visceral pericardium or epicardium.
What is the inner layer of the pericardium called?
Serous Pericardium The inner layer is known as the visceral layer, which covers and protects the great vessels and heart. The space between the parietal and visceral layers is called the pericardial cavity. The visceral layer is referred to as the epicardium in the areas where it is in direct contact with the heart.
What is the pericardium of the heart?
The pericardium is a membrane, or sac, that surrounds your heart. It holds the heart in place and helps it work properly. Problems with the pericardium include: Pericarditis - an inflammation of the sac.
What type of tissue is epicardium?
The epicardium, or the innermost layer of the pericardium, is the outermost layer of the heart itself. It is composed of mesothelial cells, fat, and connective tissue. It is adjacent to the myocardium, the middle muscular layer.
What is the endocardium quizlet?
The endocardium is the inner most layer. It also lines the valves and is continuous with the blood vessels. The smooth layer allows blood to easily flow over it.
What is the endocardium?
The endocardium is the innermost layer of the heart and lines the chambers and extends over projecting structures such as the valves, chordae tendineae, and papillary muscles.
What is the myocardium quizlet?
What is the myocardium? The muscular wall of the heart, forms both atria and ventricles. It is the middle layer, and consists of concentric layers of cardiac muscle tissue.
What is the function of epicardium?
The epicardium is a mesothelial cell layer which contributes to the coronary vessels and myocardium and acts as an important source of trophic signals to maintain continued growth and differentiation of the developing heart.
What is the epicardium made of?
The epicardium is composed primarily of loose connective tissue, including elastic fibers and adipose tissue. The epicardium functions to protect the inner heart layers and also assists in the production of pericardial fluid. This fluid fills the pericardial cavity and helps to reduce friction between pericardial membranes.
What is the outer protective layer of the heart?
Epicardium: the outer protective layer of the heart.
Which layer of the heart is covered by the heart valves?
This layer lines the inner heart chambers, covers heart valves, and is continuous with the endothelium of large blood vessels. The endocardium of heart atria consists of smooth muscle, as well as elastic fibers. An infection of the endocardium can lead to a condition known as endocarditis.
Which layer of the heart is the thickest?
The myocardium is the thickest layer of the heart wall, with its thickness varying in different parts of the heart. The myocardium of the left ventricle is the thickest, as this ventricle is responsible for generating the power needed to pump oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
What are the layers of the heart wall?
It is the cardiac muscle that enables the heart to contract and allows for the synchronization of the heartbeat. The heart wall is divided into three layers: epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium.
What is the heart?
The heart is an extraordinary organ. It is about the size of a clenched fist, weighs about 10.5 ounces and is shaped like a cone. Along with the circulatory system, the heart works to supply blood and oxygen to all parts of the body. The heart is located in the chest cavity just posterior to the breastbone, between the lungs, ...
Which layer of the heart is in direct contact with the myocardium?
Also found in this heart layer are the coronary blood vessels, which supply the heart wall with blood. The inner layer of the epicardium is in direct contact with the myocardium.
What is the layer of connective tissue that binds the epicardium to the myocardium and cushions?
Below the mesothelial cells is a layer of adipose and connective tissue that binds the epicardium to the myocardium and cushions the heart. Nerves and blood vessels that supply the heart are found in the epicardium.
What is the myocardium made of?
Histologically, the myocardium is comprised of cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes have a single nucleus in the center of the cell, which helps to distinguish them from skeletal muscle cells that have multiple nuclei dispersed in the periphery of the cell. Cardiomyocytes are very rich in glycogen deposits and mitochondria.
What is the outermost layer of the heart?
The epicardium is the outermost layer of the heart. It is actually the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, which adheres to the myocardium of the heart. Histologically, it is made of mesothelial cells, the same as the parietal pericardium.
Why is the myocardium thicker in the atria than in the ventricles?
This is due to the greater hydrostatic pressure that the ventricles must overcome when pumping the blood into the systemic vessels.
What are the glycogen deposits in cardiomyocytes?
Cardiomyocytes are very rich in glycogen deposits and mitochondria. This has a great functional significance since the myocardium is constantly contracting and needs a great amount of energy at all times. Cardiomyocytes also contain yellow lipofuscin granules.
What are the layers of the heart?
Histologically, the heart is made of three layers of tissue: epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. Key facts about the layers of the heart. Epicardium. Visceral layer of serous pericardium. Comprised of mesothelial cells and fat and connective tissues. Myo cardium.
What causes endocarditis?
Usually, it has an infectious etiology. It mostly affects already damaged heart valves and in most cases, is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus viridans. In the case of a healthy heart, the pathogenic bacteria is Streptococcus aureus. No matter what bacteria is the cause, pathogenesis is the same. Once the bacteria carried by the bloodstream reaches the heart valves, they invade the endocardium. Then they cause the destruction of heart tissue, which leads to the formation of friable vegetations composed of necrotic debris (destructed heart cells), thrombi, and microorganisms. Parts of the vegetation can be loosened by the bloodstream and disseminated throughout the body, forming secondary deposits of infection. If the causing bacteria is very virulent, the endocarditis has a fulminant course and often a fatal outcome. On the other hand, when the bacteria are not so virulent they can persist for some time in the heart causing valves deformities.