General Anatomy · Cardiovascular System · Medium

Pericardium

Meaning: The tough double-layered sac surrounding the heart and the roots of the great vessels.

In practice: Fluid accumulating within the pericardium can squeeze the heart and reduce cardiac output.

Word parts

  • peri- means around

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

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Which word means: A tough band of tissue connecting bone to bone at a joint.

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