Which of the following lists the three layers of the pericardium?

Which of the following lists the three layers of the pericardium?

• A. Fibrous pericardium; Parietal layer of serous pericardium; Visceral layer of serous pericardium
• B. Endocardium; Myocardium; Epicardium
• C. Endothelium; Myocardium; Pericardium
• D. Fibrous pericardium; Endocardium; Myocardium

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the pericardium has three coverings: an outer fibrous layer and a double layer of serous membrane—the parietal layer lining the fibrous sac and the visceral layer that clings to the heart (the epicardium). So the three pericardial layers are the fibrous pericardium, the parietal serous pericardium, and the visceral serous pericardium (epicardium). The other options mix in layers that belong to the heart wall (endocardium and myocardium) or to the lining of vessels and chambers (endothelium), which aren’t pericardial layers.

The main idea here is that the pericardium has three coverings: an outer fibrous layer and a double layer of serous membrane—the parietal layer lining the fibrous sac and the visceral layer that clings to the heart (the epicardium). So the three pericardial layers are the fibrous pericardium, the parietal serous pericardium, and the visceral serous pericardium (epicardium). The other options mix in layers that belong to the heart wall (endocardium and myocardium) or to the lining of vessels and chambers (endothelium), which aren’t pericardial layers.