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Heart Wall & Pericardium
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Heart Wall & Pericardium

Heart Wall and Pericardium
Photos
Histology
Endocardium is the innermost layer of heart wall.
Clinical correlation: Endocarditis (inflammation of the endocardium) can destroy the valves and disrupt blood flow through the heart.
Myocardium comprises cardiac muscle fibers (cells) are anchored to the dense regular connective tissue of the fibrous skeleton. In addition to anchoring the cardiac muscle fibers, the fibrous skeleton maintains the structural and physiological integrity of the heart.
Clinical correlation: The myocardial layer is injured in myocardial infarction (aka, heart attack), which occurs when obstructed coronary artery blood flow causes cardiac muscle cell death.
Epicardium* is the most superficial layer of heart wall; it is often filled with fat. It comprises two sublayers; outermost layer is visceral layer of pericardium.
Pericardium:
The fibrous layer is the most superficial layer; it comprises a tough layer of dense connective tissue. Because it is inelastic, it prevents overfilling of the heart. This layer arises from the diaphragm and covers the heart and the roots of the great vessels, with which it is continuous.
Serous layer has two sublayers: The parietal layer lines the fibrous pericardium.
The pericardial cavity lies between parietal and visceral layers; it contains thin layer of fluid to reduce friction and allow movement of heart.
The visceral layer forms most superficial layer of the epicardium.
Clinical correlation: Pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium) causes the pericardium to rub against the heart, which causes friction. As a result, patients experience pain and can even suffer from impaired heart function, which, sometimes necessitates medical or surgical intervention.

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