At the region of reflection, it becomes continuous with the visceral layer of serous pericardium, which covers the heart closely.
1 The potential space between the parietal and visceral layers of the serous pericardium is called the pericardial cavity. 2  It normally contains a thin film of serous fluid that enables the heart to move and beat in a frictionless environment. 1 The serous pericardium consists of two layers: a parietal pericardium and a visceral pericardium. 2  The parietal pericardium is fused to the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium and is so closely adherent to it that they are difficult to separate. Pericardial fluid is the serous fluid secreted by the serous layer of the pericardium into the pericardial cavity. The pericardium consists of two layers, an outer fibrous layer and the inner serous layer.  parietal pericardium the parietal layer of the serous pericardium, which is in contact with the fibrous pericardium. serous pericardium the inner, serous portion of pericardium, consisting of two layers, visceral and parietal; the space between the layers is the pericardial cavity. visceral pericardium the inner layer of the serous pericardium, which is in contact with the heart and roots of the great vessels. Called also epicardium. It is a closed sac having two layers: the visceral layer (epicardium), immediately surrounding the heart, and the outer parietal layer, forming the sac, composed of strong fibrous tissue, the fibrous pericardium, lined with a serous membrane, the serous pericardium. Synonym(s): heart sac, theca cordis. [L. fr. The visceral portion, or epicardium, covers the heart and the great vessels, and from the latter is continuous with the parietal layer which lines the fibrous pericardium. The portion which covers the vessels is arranged in the form of two tubes. The pericardium (Fig. 489) is a conical fibro-serous sac, in which the heart and the roots of the great vessels are contained. It is placed behind the sternum and the cartilages of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs of the left side, in the mediastinal cavity. The serous pericardium (fig. 23-1) is a closed sac, the parietal layer of which lines the inner surface of the fibrous pericardium and is reflected onto the heart as the visceral layer, or epicardium. Figure 23-1 Schematic sagittal section through the heart and pericardium. Note how the serous layer of the pericardium is reflected onto the heart and forms a double layer. Figure 23-2 Mirror images of the pericardial reflections. A, The reflections onto the heart, viewed from behind. Parietal layer of serous pericardium: It lines the fibrous pericardium and is reflected around the roots of great blood vessels. At the region of reflection, it becomes continuous with the visceral layer of serous pericardium, which covers the heart closely. Visceral layer of serous pericardium: This layer is closely applied to the heart and is often called the epicardium. There exists a slit like space between the parietal and visceral layers of serous pericardium. This space is known as pericardial cavity and it contains a small amount of tissue fluid called pericardial fluid. Pericardium is a fibroserous sac, which encloses the heart and roots of great vessels. It has two primary functions. Firstly, it restricts excessive movements of the heart so that injury to this vital organ of human body is avoided. FIG. 489 Posterior wall of the pericardial sac, showing the lines of reflection of the serous pericardium on the great vessels. The pericardium (Fig. 489) is a conical fibro-serous sac, in which the heart and the roots of the great vessels are contained. It is placed behind the sternum and the cartilages of the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh ribs of the left side, in the mediastinal cavity. The Serous Pericardium. 1  The serous pericardium consists of two layers: a parietal pericardium and a visceral pericardium. 2  The parietal pericardium is fused to the internal surface of the fibrous pericardium and is so closely adherent to it that they are difficult to separate. 1
http://download.videohelp.com/vitualis/med/pericardium.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pericardial_fluid http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/pericardium http://www.theodora.com/anatomy/the_pericardium.html http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/part_4/chapter_23.html http://www.mananatomy.com/body-systems/cardiovascular-system/pericardium http://www.theodora.com/anatomy/the_pericardium.html http://download.videohelp.com/vitualis/med/pericardium.htm
what is meant by reflection of the serous pericardium