Question

The pericardium and the pericardial fluid help in:

• A. Protecting the heart from friction, shocks and keeping it moist.
• B. Pumping of the blood.
• C. Receiving the blood from various parts of the body.
• D. All of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Protecting the heart from friction, shocks and keeping it moist.

• The pericardium is a sac-like structure surrounding the heart. It has 2 layers. The inner layer is known as the visceral pericardium, which secretes a fluid called pericardial fluid. The outer layer is more fibrous and is called the parietal pericardium.
• The pericardial fluid remains inside the space between the two layers of the pericardium, known as a pericardial cavity.
• The pericardium is responsible for the protection of the heart from external injuries. The pericardial fluid allows the absorption of shock and the visceral layer helps in the movement of the heart walls during contraction and relaxation of the heart.

So, the correct answer is option A.