Dictionary

pericardial effusion Too much fluid within the pericardium, which normally contains a small amount of serous, pale yellow fluid.

pericardial sac See pericardium.

pericardial tamponade See tamponade, cardiac.

pericarditis Inflammation of the lining around the heart (the pericardium) that causes chest pain and accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion). There are many causes of pericarditis, including infections, injury, radiation treatment, and chronic diseases.

pericardium The conical sac of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great blood vessels. The pericardium consists of an outer coat (the parietal pericardium) attached to the central part of the diaphragm and the back of the breastbone and a double inner coat (the visceral pericardium, or epicardium), with one…

pericardium, parietal The tough, thickened outer layer of the pericardium. The parietal pericardium loosely cloaks the heart and is attached to the central part of the diaphragm and the back of the breastbone.

pericardium, visceral The double inner layer of the pericardium. One layer of the visceral pericardium closely adheres to the heart, and the other lines the inner surface of the outer (parietal) pericardium. The intervening space is filled with pericardial fluid. Also known as epicardium.

pericentric chromosome inversion See chromosome inversion, pericentric.

perichondrial Having to do with the perichondrium, the membrane that surrounds cartilage.

pedigree In medicine, a family health history that is diagrammed with a set of international symbols to indicate the individuals in the family, their gender, their relationships to one another, those with diseases, and other data. A pedigree is a basic tool of clinical genetics that is used to determine that a disease is genetic,…

pedodontics Children’s dentistry.

pedophilia Adult sexual fondness for and activity with children. Pedophilia is a form of paraphilia (deviant sexual behavior). If acted out, pedophilia is legally defined as sexual child abuse. Pedophilia includes fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, and commercial exploitation of children through prostitution or the production of pornographic materials. Pedophiles who…