From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Epicardium describes the outer layer of heart tissue (from Greek; epi- outer, cardium heart). When considered as a part of the pericardium, it is the inner layer, or visceral pericardium.
Its largest constituent is connective tissue and functions as a protective layer. The visceral pericardium apparently produces the pericardial fluid, which lubricates motion between the inner and outer layers of the pericardium.
During ventricular contraction, the wave of depolarization moves from endocardial to epicardial surface.
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Anatomy of torso, cardiovascular system: heart |
| atria (interatrial septum, musculi pectinati) • ventricles (interventricular septum, trabeculae carneae, chordae tendinae, papillary muscle) • valves
base • apex • grooves (coronary/atrioventricular, interatrial, anterior interventricula, posterior interventricular) • surfaces (sternocostal, diaphragmatic) • borders (right, left)
right heart
(vena cavae, coronary sinus) → right atrium (auricle, fossa ovalis, limbus of fossa ovalis, crista terminalis, valve of the inferior vena cava, valve of the coronary sinus) → tricuspid valve → right ventricle (conus arteriosus, moderator band/septomarginal trabecula) → pulmonic valve → (pulmonary artery and pulmonary circulation)
left heart
(pulmonary veins) → left atrium (auricle) → mitral valve → left ventricle → aortic valve (aortic sinus) → (aorta and systemic circulation)
pericardium (sinus) • epicardium • myocardium • endocardium • cardiac skeleton (fibrous trigone, fibrous rings)
conduction system
cardiac pacemaker • SA node • AV node• bundle of His • Purkinje fibers
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