Cross Section of the Heart Displaying the Epicardium

Description

Seen in transverse section, the ventricular myocardium and the outer cardiac contour are bordered by a thin epicardium (visceral layer of serous pericardium) that conforms to the grooves and convexities of the heart. Epicardial fat often intervenes superficial to the myocardium, and the visceral serosa reflects at the root of the great vessels to become parietal serous pericardium, leaving the pericardial cavity as a potential space external to the epicardium. Coronary arteries and cardiac veins normally course within the epicardial connective tissue and along the atrioventricular and interventricular sulci. A slippery interface. Recognizing the epicardium matters when you need to separate normal serosal lining from pathology in the pericardial sac, since pericarditis and pericardial effusion involve the pericardial cavity external to the visceral serous layer rather than the myocardial wall itself. This cross-sectional perspective also supports procedural planning for pericardiocentesis and surgical pericardiotomy, where the goal is to enter the pericardial space without injuring epicardial coronary vessels embedded in the visceral pericardium and adjacent fat. Use this artwork for thoracic anatomy teaching in medical and PA curricula, pericardial disease figures in cardiology texts, and operative anatomy panels discussing the pericardium, pericardial reflections, and access to the pericardial cavity in cardiothoracic surgery. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.