Pericardium

The pericardium is a double-walled, fibroserous sac that encases the heart and the proximal portions of the great vessels (StatPearls, 2023). It consists of an outer fibrous layer and an inner serous layer, which provides lubrication via pericardial fluid to minimize friction during cardiac cycles (NIH, 2022). The primary biological roles include anchoring the heart within the mediastinum and preventing excessive cardiac dilation (Wikipedia, 2024). In clinical medicine, the pericardium is central to diseases such as pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and life-threatening cardiac tamponade (Mayo Clinic, 2023). While the pericardium itself is an anatomical structure and not a specific molecular target like a receptor or enzyme, it is the focus of therapeutic interventions (PubMed, 2021). Drugs like colchicine and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used to treat pericardial inflammation by targeting systemic inflammatory pathways (American College of Cardiology, 2020). Consequently, the pericardium serves as a critical anatomical site for diagnosing and managing inflammatory cardiovascular conditions.

Other names

Heart sacTheca cordisPericardial sac

The pericardium is an anatomical structure rather than a molecular target; therefore, it does not possess a pharmacological mechanism of action. Therapeutic agents used in pericardial disease act on inflammatory pathways, such as inhibition of cyclooxygenase (NSAIDs) or inhibition of tubulin polymerization (Colchicine), to reduce inflammation within the pericardial tissue (StatPearls, 2023).