pericardium

[ per-i-kahr-dee-uh m ]
/ 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.

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

Words nearby pericardium

pericardiorrhaphy, pericardiostomy, pericardiotomy, pericarditis, pericarditis obliterans, pericardium, pericarp, pericementitis, pericementum, pericenter, pericentre

Example sentences from the Web for 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
/ (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

Medical definitions for pericardia

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.

Scientific definitions for pericardia

pericardium
[ pĕr′ĭ-kär′dē-əm ]

Plural pericardia

The membrane sac that encloses the heart in vertebrate animals.