**3. Anatomy and function of the pericardium**

The pericardium is a solid fibro-serous sac that maintains the heart in the anterior mediastinum in a closed thoracic cavity called the "pericardial cavity." The pericardium has two main components: (1) an external, fibrous pericardium ensuring the fixity of the pericardium and (2) an internal serous pericardium with two principal layers: the visceral and the parietal pericardium. In a normal heart, the parietal and visceral pericardium release the pericardial cavity filled with a fluid up to 50 ml allowing easy systolic and diastolic heart movements. Pericardium prevents the heart from inflammation, infection, damage, and excessive dilatation; it also ensures heart stabilization and anchoring [1–3].
