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Multiple Choice

What organ does the pericardium surround?

The pericardium is the fibrous sac that encloses the heart, forming a protective and friction-reducing envelope in the middle of the chest. It consists of a tough outer layer (the fibrous pericardium) and a serous layer that lines the sac and folds over the heart, creating a small lubricated space (the pericardial cavity). This setup keeps the heart in place within the mediastinum and allows it to beat smoothly without rubbing against surrounding tissues. Because of this structure, the organ surrounded by the pericardium is the heart. The lungs lie to either side in the thoracic cavity and are not enclosed by the pericardial sac, while the stomach and liver reside in the abdominal cavity, outside the pericardium.

The pericardium is the fibrous sac that encloses the heart, forming a protective and friction-reducing envelope in the middle of the chest. It consists of a tough outer layer (the fibrous pericardium) and a serous layer that lines the sac and folds over the heart, creating a small lubricated space (the pericardial cavity). This setup keeps the heart in place within the mediastinum and allows it to beat smoothly without rubbing against surrounding tissues. Because of this structure, the organ surrounded by the pericardium is the heart. The lungs lie to either side in the thoracic cavity and are not enclosed by the pericardial sac, while the stomach and liver reside in the abdominal cavity, outside the pericardium.