Which cavity surrounds the heart with a small amount of fluid?

Prepare for AAMI Anatomy 1. Utilize flashcards, multiple choice questions with explanations, and detailed study aids. Succeed on your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which cavity surrounds the heart with a small amount of fluid?

The heart is enclosed by a protective sac called the pericardium, and the space inside that sac between its serous layers is the pericardial cavity. This cavity normally contains a small amount of lubricating fluid (pericardial fluid) that lets the heart glide smoothly as it beats, reducing friction. The other options don’t fit this description: the abdominal cavity houses digestive organs; the pleural cavities surround the lungs and contain pleural fluid; the mediastinum is the central thoracic compartment that contains the heart but is not the specific fluid-filled space around it. So, the cavity surrounding the heart with a small amount of fluid is the pericardial cavity.

The heart is enclosed by a protective sac called the pericardium, and the space inside that sac between its serous layers is the pericardial cavity. This cavity normally contains a small amount of lubricating fluid (pericardial fluid) that lets the heart glide smoothly as it beats, reducing friction. The other options don’t fit this description: the abdominal cavity houses digestive organs; the pleural cavities surround the lungs and contain pleural fluid; the mediastinum is the central thoracic compartment that contains the heart but is not the specific fluid-filled space around it. So, the cavity surrounding the heart with a small amount of fluid is the pericardial cavity.

More practice questions