Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The membranous sac filled with serous fluid that encloses the heart and the roots of the aorta and other large blood vessels.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. In anatomy and zoology: A somewhat conically shaped membranous sac, inclosing the heart and the origin of the great vessels. It is composed of two layers, an outer fibrous one, dense and unyielding in structure, and an inner serous one, reflected on the surface of the viscus. See cut under
thorax . - n. A blood-sinus or special cavity beneath the carapace of a crustacean, in which the heart is suspended by ligaments and arteries, but not otherwise connected.
- n. In mollusks, the spacious dorsal cœlom or body-cavity which is traversed by the contractile vessel which acts like a heart. It is situated dorsad of the alimentary canal, seldom or never contains blood-lymph, and doest not communicate with other body-cavities, but opens upon the exterior through the nephridia. See cuts under
Lamellibranchiata .
Wiktionary
- n. anatomy, cardiology A serous membrane that surrounds the heart allowing it to contract.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. (Anat.) The double baglike fold of serous membrane which incloses the heart.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a serous membrane with two layers that surrounds the heart
Etymologies
- New Latin, from Greek perikardion, from perikardios, around the heart : peri-, peri- + kardiā, heart; see kerd- in Indo-European roots. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
Examples
“Over at Sterne, Tim has recounted a harrowing turn of events that saw him rushed to hospital and diagnosed with Pericardia, an inflammation of the pericardium, which is the lining of the heart.”
“The inhabitants, however, always first drink the water in the pericardium, which is described as being best.”
“The heart is surrounded by a sac called the pericardium.”
“The pericardium is a sac composed of two layers -- a fibrous membrane on the outside, and a serous one on the inside.”
Hygienic Physiology : with Special Reference to the Use of Alcoholic Drinks and Narcotics
“The foramen here described is easily seen; but, as I have stated, there are other modes of communication between the so-called pericardium and the cavity with which the siphuncle communicates, of a far more extensive nature.”
Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society - Vol. 3 Zoology
“The blood, which is a non-corpuscular fluid, is propelled forwards by the contractile dorsal vessel and collected into the central blood-sinus; this lies over the stomochord, and is surrounded on three sides by a closed vesicle, with contractile walls, called the pericardium”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy"
“It is enclosed with the ascending aorta in a single tube of the visceral layer of the serous pericardium, which is continued upward upon them from the base of the heart.”
“It may be divided for purposes of description into two parts: an upper portion, above the upper level of the pericardium, which is named the superior mediastinum; and a lower portion, below the upper level of the pericardium.”
“It is inclosed in a sac, the pericardium, which is composed of a dense fibrous membrane lined by a delicate serous membrane, which is reflected over the heart; the inner layer is firmly adherent to the heart, the outer to the fibrous sac, and there is an intervening space, known as the pericardial space, in which a small amount of serum -- a thin translucent liquid -- is present constantly.”
“[147] There is about man's heart a skin called pericardium, containing water, which cools and moistens the heart, lest it should be scorched with continual motion.”
The Practice of Piety: Directing a Christian How to Walk, that He May Please God.
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘pericardium’.
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Logolepsy
"Luciferous Logolepsy is a collection of over 9,000 obscure English words. Though the definition of an 'English' word might seem to be straightforward, it is not. There exist so many adopted, deriv...
Anschauung, Areopagus, Argus, Briarean, Dei gratia, Dei judicium, Deo volente, Duecento, Foehn, Geflugelte Worte, Gegenschein, Hakenkreuz and 9230 more...
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♥
ambrosia, inamorata, gossamer, lily-white, hummingbird, roucoulement, poppy, daisy, calypso, lunula, lamb, dove and 1526 more...
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peri-
round or about; nearest
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parody's Words
defenestrate, behemoth, floss, macchiato, glom, emu, alpaca, crocheted, ampersand, charade, conflate, salacious and 193 more...
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Infinite Jest
Words taken from Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.
prorector, monograph, post-fourier, snuffle, rototremble, creatus, enfilade, subanimalistic, balletic, espadrilles, leonine, cirri and 1153 more...
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Just 'cause I like 'em, P
pellucid, pertain, pampas, prate, pinecone, philistine, pantocrator, papaverine, postmeridian, potlatch, pharology, pinniped and 622 more...
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words of mercy and heart
mercy, market, mercer, commerce, mercury, heart, cordate, cordial, courage, quarry, accord, concord and 45 more...
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ium, ium
Some words that end in. . .you guessed it.
planetarium, aquarium, solarium, terrarium, medium, tedium, praesidium, librium, lithium, premium, titanium, geranium and 27 more...
Tweets
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slumry :) Jul 12, 2007