Dictionary.com

pericardium

[ per-i-kahr-dee-uhm ]
/ ˌpɛr ɪˈkɑr di əm /

noun, plural per·i·car·di·a [per-i-kahr-dee-uh]. /ˌpɛr ɪˈkɑr di ə/. Anatomy.

the membranous sac enclosing the heart.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ IF A DAZZLING VOCABULARY IS YOUR DESIDERATUM!

Have the Words of the Day from October 19–25, 2020, made an indelible mark on your memory? Take the quiz to find out!
Question 1 of 7
What does “clement” mean?
having or claiming to have the power of seeing objects or actions beyond the range of natural vision.
mild or merciful in disposition or character; lenient; compassionate.
favorite; cherished.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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 kardíaheart; cf. -cardium

Words nearby pericardium

pericardiorrhaphy, pericardiostomy, pericardiotomy, pericarditis, pericarditis obliterans, pericardium, pericarp, pericementitis, pericementum, pericenter, pericentre
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pericardium

British Dictionary definitions for pericardium

pericardium
/ (ˌpɛrɪˈkɑːdɪəm) /

noun plural -dia (-dɪə)

the membranous sac enclosing the heart

Derived forms of pericardium

pericardial 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

Medical definitions for pericardium

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

Other words from pericardium

per′i•car′di•al (-dē-əl) null adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for pericardium

pericardium
[ pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm ]

Plural pericardia

The membrane sac that encloses the heart in vertebrate animals.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.