pericardium

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

1. 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 Examples from the Web for pericardia Historical Examples of pericardia

Mr. Darwin writes of people who, catching turtles, drank the water that was found in their Pericardia; it was pure and sweet.

The Art of Travel

Francis Galton

British Dictionary definitions for pericardia pericardium noun plural -dia (-dɪə)

1. the membranous sac enclosing the heart

Derived Formspericardial or pericardiac, adjectiveWord Origin for pericardium C16: via New Latin from Greek perikardion, from peri- + kardia heart Word Origin and History for pericardia pericardium n.

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.

pericardia in Medicine pericardium [pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm] n. pl. per•i•car•di•a (-dē-ə)

1. 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. pericardia in Science pericardium [pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm] Plural pericardia

1. The membrane sac that encloses the heart in vertebrate animals.