Definition of epicardium in English:
epicardium
noun ˌɛpɪˈkɑːdɪəmˌɛpəˈkɑrdiəm
mass nounAnatomy A serous membrane that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium, attached to the muscles of the wall of the heart.
Example sentencesExamples
- An echocardiogram showed that the tip of the pacemaker catheter extended through the right ventricular apical wall of the epicardium.
- Affected regions are characterized by a lacelike pattern of adipose infiltration, progressing from epicardium toward the endocardium, and by interposed streams of normal or slightly atrophie myocytes.
- Reference to the pericardium, epicardium, myocardium, endocardium and valves, chordae, ventricular thicknesses, and aorta and major vessels may be included.
- It has been known that muscle fibers in a heart are arranged in such a way that their orientation changes continuously from endocardium to epicardium of the free wall.
- The difference in the spacings in the top epicardium layer and the rest of the heart may indicate that sarcomere lengths in those regions are different.
Derivatives
adjective
Anatomy Similar benefits were reported for the epicardial coronary artery system.
Example sentencesExamples
- Coronary spasm, which results from an increased vasomotor tone of epicardial coronary arteries, can produce myocardial ischemia.
- Such disorders are usually confined to the epicardial coronaries, sparing the intramural vessels and the ventricular myocardium.
- Based on the CT scans, a scoring system for coronary artery calcification involving the four major epicardial coronary arteries was determined.
- There were multiple irregular, sharply demarcated, rubbery, pale yellow plaques and nodules scattered throughout the pericardium and on the epicardial surface.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from epi- 'above' + Greek kardia 'heart', on the pattern of pericardium.
Definition of epicardium in US English:
epicardium
nounˌepəˈkärdēəmˌɛpəˈkɑrdiəm
Anatomy A serous membrane that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium and the outer surface of the heart.
Example sentencesExamples
- Reference to the pericardium, epicardium, myocardium, endocardium and valves, chordae, ventricular thicknesses, and aorta and major vessels may be included.
- Affected regions are characterized by a lacelike pattern of adipose infiltration, progressing from epicardium toward the endocardium, and by interposed streams of normal or slightly atrophie myocytes.
- The difference in the spacings in the top epicardium layer and the rest of the heart may indicate that sarcomere lengths in those regions are different.
- It has been known that muscle fibers in a heart are arranged in such a way that their orientation changes continuously from endocardium to epicardium of the free wall.
- An echocardiogram showed that the tip of the pacemaker catheter extended through the right ventricular apical wall of the epicardium.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from epi- ‘above’ + Greek kardia ‘heart’, on the pattern of pericardium.