Crossword clues for pericardium
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pericardium \Per`i*car"di*um\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? about or near the heart; ? about + ? heart.] (Anat.) The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.
Note: The inner layer is closely adherent to the outer surface of the heart, and is called the cardiac pericardium. The outer layer loosely incloses the heart and the adherent inner layer, and is called the parietal pericardium. At the base of the heart the two layers are continuous, and form a narrow closed cavity filled with fluid, in which the pulsations of the heart cause little friction.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. (context anatomy cardiology English) A serous membrane that surrounds the heart allowing it to contract.
WordNet
n. a double-layered serous membrane that surrounds the heart
[also: pericardia (pl)]
Wikipedia
The pericardium (from the Greek περί, "around" and κάρδιον, "heart") is a double-walled sac containing the heart and the roots of the great vessels. The pericardial sac has two layers, a serous layer and a fibrous layer. It encloses the pericardial cavity which contains pericardial fluid.
The pericardium fixes the heart to the mediastinum, gives protection against infection, and provides the lubrication for the heart.
As distinct from the Western medical concept of pericardium, this concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated parts than an anatomical organ. (See Zang Fu theory)
The Pericardium is also called the "heart protector," and, for clinical purposes, is considered a yin organ paired with the yang organ San Jiao. In general theory, the Pericardium is not distinguished from the Heart. It is also the first line of defence against the Heart from External Pathogenic Influences. The Pericardium has a meridian named for it, which reflects the health of the organ. In terms of the Five Elements, these organs are both associated with the fire element. In treatment, it is often best to approach heart problems via the Pericardium, rather than directly. The peak time for the Pericardium is from 7pm to 9pm.
Category:Traditional Chinese medicine
Usage examples of "pericardium".
In heart-injuries, paracentesis, followed, if necessary, by incision of the pericardium, is advised by some surgeons.
The inner layer of the pericardium is closely attached to the heart muscle, forming for it an outside covering.
Between the two layers of the pericardium is secreted a liquid which prevents friction from the movements of the heart.
Then slide back the pericardium until its connection with the large blood vessels above the heart is found.
The edges of the diaphragm are firmly attached to the walls of the trunk, and the center is supported by the pericardium and the pleura.
Find on each side of the heart a nerve which passes by the side of the pericardium to the diaphragm.
At the postmortem, which was secured with some difficulty on account of the authorities ordering the bodies to be burned, the pericardium was found single, covering both hearts.
There is one case on record in which after a death from sudden joy the pericardium was found full of blood.
Several ribs were severed, and the left thoracic cavity was wholly exposed to view, showing the lungs, diaphragm, and pericardium all in motion.
The ball was found loose in the pericardium, where it had fallen during the necropsy.
Both the pericardium and left pleura were distended with fresh blood and large clots.
The postmortem examination showed that the ball had pierced the sternum just above the xiphoid cartilage, and had entered the pericardium to the right and at the lower part.
The pericardium was much distended and contained from six to eight ounces of partially coagulated blood.
There was no scar of entrance discernible, though the pericardium was adherent.
Cardanus says that he witnessed the excision of a portion of the pericardium with the subsequent cure of the patient.