Circulatory System
The heart is a muscular pump, that is hollow and coned shaped. It is protected within the thoracic cavity.
There heart is enclosed by the three layer pericardium: fibrous pericardium which is composed of dense connective tissue attaches the heart to the diaphragm; parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium surround the heart.
The wall of the heart is composed of three layers:
Epicardium
Myocardium
Endocardium
There heart is enclosed by the three layer pericardium: fibrous pericardium which is composed of dense connective tissue attaches the heart to the diaphragm; parietal pericardium and visceral pericardium surround the heart.
The wall of the heart is composed of three layers:
Epicardium
- Connective tissue outer membrane adjacent to the pericardium
- Deeper portions often contain adipose tissue
- Protects the heart by reducing friction
Myocardium
- Cardiac muscle tissue that contracts to pump blood out the of the heart chambers
- Its cells require a constant supply of freshly oxygenated blood to keep the heart continuously beating
Endocardium
- Epithelium and connective tissue that contains many elastic and collagenous fibers
- Contains specialized cardiac muscle fibers called Purkinje fibers