pericardium

[per-i-kahr-dee-uh m]

noun, plural per·i·car·di·a

[per-i-kahr-dee-uh] /ˌpɛr ɪˈkɑr di ə/. Anatomy.

the membranous sac enclosing the heart.

Origin of pericardium

1570–80; < New Latin < Greek perikárdion, noun use of neuter of perikárdios surrounding the heart, equivalent to peri- peri- + kardios, adj. derivative of kardía heart; cf. -cardium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pericardium

Historical Examples of pericardium

Cardio-coelom: that part of the coelom that forms the pericardium.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology
John. B. Smith
Under this name I also include the dropsy of the pericardium.
An Account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses
William Withering
Thickening of the pericardium and subserous hemorrhages also occur.
Scurvy Past and Present
Alfred Fabian Hess
Inflammation, as in pericarditis, inflammation of the pericardium.
Surgery, with Special Reference to Podiatry
Maximilian Stern
In the Dog-fish, at least, it has no connection with the pericardium.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1
Francis Maitland Balfour

British Dictionary definitions for pericardium

pericardium

noun plural -dia (-dɪə)

the membranous sac enclosing the heart

Derived Formspericardial or pericardiac, adjective

Word Origin for pericardium

C16: via New Latin from Greek perikardion, from peri- + kardia heart

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pericardium

early 15c., Latinized form of Greek perikardion "(membrane) around the heart" (Galen), from peri (prep.) "around, about" (see peri-) + kardia "heart" (see heart). Related: Pericardiac.

pericardium in Medicine

pericardium

[pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm]

n. pl. per•i•car•di•a (-dē-ə)

The fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and the roots of the great vessels, consisting of two layers: the visceral layer or epicardium, immediately surrounding the heart; and the outer parietal layer, which forms the sac and is lined with a serous membrane.heart sac theca cordis

Related formsper′i•car′di•al (-dē-əl) null adj.

pericardium in Science

pericardium

[pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm]

Plural pericardia

The membrane sac that encloses the heart in vertebrate animals.