The pericardium is a membrane like a sac that surrounds the heart and its major blood vessels. Normally there is a small amount of fluid between the pericardium and the heart that helps cushion the heart and reduces friction between the heart and the pericardium when the heart beats.
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Revised | April 5, 2011 |
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