What is Fibrous pericardium?
It is a fibrous sac that acts as the outermost layer of the pericardium, a thin sac-like membrane that envelops the heart.
Fibrous pericardium Anatomy
It is a firm sheet composed of collagens. It is separated from the serous pericardium by a thin amorphous connective tissue layer. The structure is cone-like in shape. It is made up of a loose structure known as the dense connective tissue.
Fibrous pericardium Location
It is located close to the heart of humans and is firmly attached to the central tendon of the diaphragm. It lies outside the parietal layer of the serous pericardium. It runs continuously with the outer adventitial layer of the surrounding large blood vessels.
Fibrous pericardium Functions
It surrounds the heart and forms a protective covering for the cardiac chambers. It also acts as an anchor for the heart that keeps it restricted in the chest cavity by binding itself to the adjoining regions. It also prevents the overexpansion of the heart when there is a rise in the volume of blood inside the body.
Fibrous pericardium Pictures
Know how this cardiac covering looks like with the help of the images provided below.
Picture 1 – Fibrous pericardium
Picture 2 – Fibrous pericardium Image
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibrous_pericardium
http://biology.about.com/library/organs/heart/blfibpericardium.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-fibrous-pericardium.htm
No comments yet.