Anatomy questions

[icedoverfire]

Hi gents,

I'm going through some anatomy lectures and I'm wondering if you could answer a couple questions I have:

Topic: Cardiac anatomy

1. If the outermost layer of the pericardia is anchored in part to your diaphragm, does your heart "jiggle" when you breathe? Or is it stabilized by the other attachments of the outermost layer?
2. Visceral pericardium and parietal pericardium are separated by serous fluid to reduce friction... I think excess fluid can build up in this cavity in response to injury, and the condition is called cardiac tamponade?

I'll probably put up more questions as I think of them.

Thanks,

- ice

[Snipersnest]

Anatomy lecture hall, would be the place to ask.

[icedoverfire]

It would, naturally. I'm actually doing this course online without the benefit of a professor, so I figured I'd see if anyone here knew.

www.academicearth.org

The site basically has all these lecture videos that anyone can watch but obviously because it's all free the drawback is that there is no prof to ask.

- ice

[rfm2]

Not sure how to answer #1...

Fluid in the pericardium is called pericardial effusion and can be from injury or inflammation (autoimmune or infection). When enough fluid builds up to put pressure on the heart and inhibit normal function, it is called pericardial tamponade.

[icedoverfire]

rfm2 - cool, thanks!

[M80]

1. If the outermost layer of the pericardia is anchored in part to your diaphragm, does your heart "jiggle" when you breathe? Or is it stabilized by the other attachments of the outermost layer?

http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/5/1261
We conclude that the diaphragm may slightly tense the pericardium, but this has no important primary effect on the heart.

[NBT]

Hi gents,

I'm going through some anatomy lectures and I'm wondering if you could answer a couple questions I have:

Topic: Cardiac anatomy

1. If the outermost layer of the pericardia is anchored in part to your diaphragm, does your heart "jiggle" when you breathe? Or is it stabilized by the other attachments of the outermost layer?

Not sure it "jiggles" more with breathing that when beating.
Breathe, beat...your heart is always moving...and yes it's supported by a multitude of vasculature structures as well.



2. Visceral pericardium and parietal pericardium are separated by serous fluid to reduce friction... I think excess fluid can build up in this cavity in response to injury, and the condition is called cardiac tamponade?
I'll probably put up more questions as I think of them.
Thanks,
- ice


Yes...and is associated with trauma.
If it's a bacteria...or infection then we label it... Bacterial pericarditis
Just inflammation then it's pericarditis... believe it or not...one of our guy's got this from an infected tooth.

Hope it helps, and good luck with the A&P...

Word of the day for ya... ligamentum teres.... and what's the significant concern in a trauma related incident?

[icedoverfire]

Thanks again gents!

NBT, in response to your question - There are several ligametum teres... I guess the major concern in a trauma incident would be dislocation of the femur/elbow or rupturing the uterus and liver (unpleasant thoughts all, to be sure!)

- ice

[binowatch]

The outermost layer of the heart is the epicardium. The pericardium is a sac around the heart which normally contains only few cc of fluid to lubricate and protect the heart as it beats and the surrouding structures in the mediastinum move around the heart. If there is any inflammatory process-infectious, traumatic, autoimmune etc. of either the heart or more commonly the sac itself fluid can increase. If it increases to a point the the somewhat fibrous sac cannot accommodate it the pressure in the sac rises and can interfere with the filling of the heart and hence its pumping action-this is percardial tamponade caused by effusive pericarditis. If the sac becomes scared and fibrotic it can do the same thing without fluid=constrictive pericarditis. Hope this helps.