Pericardial cavity
A transverse section of the thorax, showing the contents of the middle and the posterior mediastinum. The pleural and pericardial cavities are exaggerated since normally there is no space between parietal and visceral pleura and between pericardium and heart.
Latin	cavitas pericardiaca
Precursor	intraembryonic coelom

The pericardial cavity (or pericardial space) is a potential space between the parietal pericardium and visceral layer. It contains a supply of serous fluid. The serous fluid that is found in this space is known as the pericardial fluid.

[edit] External links

• Pericardial+cavity at eMedicine Dictionary
• thoraxlesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University)
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich ht_pericard1 - "Chest X-ray showing pericardium, posteroanterior view"

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