pericardialis

Pericardialis is the Latin adjective meaning "of the pericardium" and is used in anatomical nomenclature to describe structures or relations pertaining to the pericardial sac. In English, the corresponding term is pericardial. The pericardial sac encloses the heart and proximal great vessels and consists of two main layers: the fibrous pericardium, a tough outer layer, and the serous pericardium, a double layer of epithelium that produces pericardial fluid. The serous layer splits into the parietal layer lining the fibrous sac and the visceral layer, or epicardium, covering the heart. The potential space between the parietal and visceral layers is the pericardial cavity, normally containing a small amount of lubricating fluid (about 15–50 mL).

Vascular supply arises mainly from branches of the internal thoracic and bronchial arteries, including pericardiacophrenic arteries. Venous drainage mirrors this pattern via pericardiacophrenic veins and other mediastinal veins. The pericardium receives somatic sensory innervation primarily from the phrenic nerves (C3–C5), which explains the chest pain patterns in pericardial disease; autonomic fibers from the vagus and sympathetic trunks accompany the vessels.

Functions include reducing friction during cardiac cycles, anchoring the heart within the mediastinum, and limiting excessive dilation. Disease can involve inflammation (pericarditis), effusion into the pericardial cavity, or constrictive processes. Large effusions or tamponade can impair cardiac function and require drainage or surgical intervention. Pericardial sinuses, including the transverse and oblique sinuses, are potential spaces formed by reflections of the serous pericardium and are relevant in cardiac surgery and imaging.

Because pericardialis is the Latin form, it appears in anatomical curriculums and Latin texts to describe pericardial relations, though in modern clinical writing "pericardial" is usually preferred in English.