The epicardium is also known as which layer?

• A. Visceral pericardium
• B. Parietal pericardium
• C. Fibrous pericardium
• D. Pericardial cavity

Answer: (A)

The epicardium is the visceral pericardium, the layer that directly covers the heart’s surface as part of the serous pericardium. The serous pericardium has two layers: the visceral layer (epicardium) that clings to the myocardium, and the parietal layer that lines the fibrous pericardium. The thin space between these two layers is the pericardial cavity, which contains a small amount of lubricating fluid to reduce friction during heartbeats. The fibrous pericardium is the outer tough layer, and the pericardial cavity is not a layer itself but the potential space between visceral and parietal layers.