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Pericardium: structure and function in health and disease

Maria Jaworska-Wilczynska1, Pawel Trzaskoma, Andrzej A Szczepankiewicz

  • 1Department of Acquired Cardiac Defects, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland. mjawil@gmail.com.

Folia Histochemica Et Cytobiologica
|September 23, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The normal pericardium, including mesothelial cells, protects the heart and aids healing. Dysfunction can lead to adhesions and complications in pericarditis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Histology

Background:

  • The pericardium, a sac surrounding the heart, has fibrous and serous layers.
  • The serous pericardium contains mesothelial cells crucial for heart protection and function.
  • Pericardial cavity holds plasma ultrafiltrate, facilitating lubrication and reducing friction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the normal structure and function of the pericardium.
  • To highlight the role of mesothelial cells in pericardial health and disease.
  • To explain how pericardial injury and inflammation can lead to complications.

Main Methods:

  • Review of normal pericardial anatomy and histology.
  • Examination of mesothelial cell ultrastructure and function.
  • Analysis of pericardial healing and pathological changes.

Main Results:

  • Normal pericardium provides mechanical protection and lubrication.
  • Mesothelial cells are vital for immune response, repair, and coagulation.
  • Cuboidal mesothelial cells exhibit specialized ultrastructure for active functions.
  • Impaired pericardial healing can result in adhesions, causing serious complications.

Conclusions:

  • The integrity of the pericardium and its mesothelial cells is essential for cardiac health.
  • Understanding pericardial structure is key to preventing complications from pericarditis.
  • Dysfunctional mesothelial cells contribute to adverse outcomes in pericardial disease.

Keywords:
3DSBF-SEMleaflets adhesionsmesothelial cellspericarditispericardiumtissue repairultrastructure

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