| Endocardium | |
|---|---|
 Interior of right side of heart | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | endocardium |
| MeSH | D004699 |
| TA98 | A12.1.05.001 |
| TA2 | 3962 |
| FMA | 7280 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The endocardium (pl.: endocardia) is the innermost layer of tissue that lines the chambers of the heart. Its cells are embryologically and biologically similar to the endothelial cells that line blood vessels. The endocardium also provides protection to the valves and heart chambers.[1]
The endocardium underlies the much more voluminous myocardium, the muscular tissue responsible for the contraction of the heart. The outer layer of the heart is termed epicardium and the heart is surrounded by a small amount of fluid enclosed by a fibrous sac called the pericardium.[2]
- ^ Brutsaert, D. L.; Andries, L. J. (1992-10-01). "The endocardial endothelium". The American Journal of Physiology. 263 (4 Pt 2): H985–1002. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.1992.263.4.H985. ISSN 0002-9513. PMID 1415782.
- ^ Tran, Dan B.; Weber, Carly; Lopez, Richard A. (2022), "Anatomy, Thorax, Heart Muscles", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31424779, retrieved 2023-02-23