-cardium

Also ‑cardial.

Tissue related to the heart.

Greek kardia, heart.

The oldest such term, the model for the others, is pericardium (Greek peri, around), the membrane enclosing the heart. Other examples are epicardium (Greek epi, upon, near to) a membrane that forms the innermost layer of the pericardium, attached to the muscles of the wall of the heart; endocardium (Greek endon, within), the thin, smooth membrane which lines the inside of the chambers of the heart and forms the surface of the valves; and myocardium (Greek mus, mu‑, muscle), the muscular tissue of the heart. Associated adjectives are formed in ‑cardial (endocardial, myocardial).