Epicardium

The epicardium (. AltGr Επικάρδιον Latinized, epicardium ) is the outer layer of the heart wall. The term epicardium literally means " on the Heart".

The epicardium is identical to the body sheet (lamina visceral ) of the pericardium (pericardium ). It is a serous membrane and thus to a squamous epithelium and a subserosal layer of fat and connective tissue in which run the larger cardiac vessels. The epicardium is firmly connected to the muscle layer of the heart ( myocardium).

Epicardium and parietal pericardium enclose a narrow enclosed cavity, the pericardium or pericardial cavity ( cavum pericardii ). In this gap the epicardium secretes a small amount of clear fluid from the pericardial fluid (CSF pericardii ). This serves as a lubricating film during the action of the heart and reduces the friction between the layers of the pericardium to a minimum.