The heart is in perpetual motion in the center of the rib cage. Its contraction causes it to move upwards with a slight rotation to the left. This constant to-and-fro motion can cause friction and inflammation.
An example
For example, rubbing one’s hands together produces heat and, sooner or later, inflammation. Not so, however, in the case of the heart, which is sheltered in a watertight envelope coated with a thin layer of lubricant, the pericardiumThe pericardium is a sac surrounding the heart and containing a lubricating fluid that allows it to glide with each beat without friction..
In an envelope
As the embryo grows, the structures of the developing heart move beneath it into what will become the rib cage. This migration invades a small lacuna or cavity that completely wraps around it, giving rise to the pericardiumThe pericardium is a sac surrounding the heart and containing a lubricating fluid that allows it to glide with each beat without friction..
A viscous liquid
This pouch is divided into 2 parts: one is close to the heart muscle and the other is distanced from it by a separation that normally contains 30 to 50 ml of pericardial fluid. This viscous fluid prevents friction between the heart and all surrounding structures.
Related articles
Latest articles
