What is the difference between the pericardium and epicardium?

What is the difference between the pericardium and epicardium?

The word “pericardium” means around the heart. The outer layer of the pericardium is called the parietal pericardium. The inner part of the pericardium that closely envelops the heart is, as stated, the epicardium; it is also called the visceral pericardium.

What layer is the epicardium?

The walls of the heart are composed of three layers: Epicardium – the outer layer. Myocardium – the middle, muscular layer. Endocardium – the inner layer.

Where is epicardial?

Epicardial fat (EF) is a visceral fat deposit, located between the heart and the pericardium, which shares many of the pathophysiological properties of other visceral fat deposits, It also potentially causes local inflammation and likely has direct effects on coronary atherosclerosis.

Is epicardium a smooth muscle?

The epicardium has emerged as a multipotent cardiovascular progenitor source with therapeutic potential for coronary smooth muscle cell, cardiac fibroblast (CF) and cardiomyocyte regeneration, owing to its fundamental role in heart development and its potential ability to initiate myocardial repair in injured adult …

Why is the epicardium important?

The epicardium is a mesothelial cell layer which contributes to the coronary vessels and myocardium and acts as an important source of trophic signals to maintain continued growth and differentiation of the developing heart.

What is visceral pericardium?

The visceral pericardium or epicardium is composed of a single layer of serosal investment covering the entire heart (thin red line overlying the myocardium in blue). Note that the serosal lining of the parietal and visceral pericardium is a continuous layer of mesothelial cells.

What is the importance of epicardium?

The epicardium is an evolutionarily conserved layer of mesothelium covering the outermost cell layer of the vertebrate heart. During fetal development, the epicardium serves as a progenitor source, contributing multipotent cells that give rise to cardiac mesenchyme.

What type of tissue is epicardium?

The epicardium constitutes the visceral pericardium, underlying fibro-elastic connective tissue, and adipose tissue. [2] Coronary arteries and veins, lymphatic vessels and nerves run below the epicardium. The endocardium is composed of the endothelium and the subendothelial connective tissue layer.

What cells make up the epicardium?

The epicardium is the outermost layer of the heart. It is actually the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, which adheres to the myocardium of the heart. Histologically, it is made of mesothelial cells, the same as the parietal pericardium.

Why is pericardium so important?

The pericardium acts as mechanical protection for the heart and big vessels, and a lubrication to reduce friction between the heart and the surrounding structures. A very important role in all aspects of pericardial functions is played by mesothelial cells.