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Fibrous Pericardium. Continuous with the central tendon of the diaphragm, the fibrous pericardium is made of tough connective tissue and is relatively non-distensible. This rigidity prevents rapid overfilling of the heart, but can have several serious clinical consequences (see cardiac tamponade).
The pericardium is a protective sac surrounding the heart, which consists of two parts: the inner serous pericardium and the outer fibrous pericardium. The serous pericardium has two layers--the visceral and the parietal. The visceral pericardium, also called the epicardium, is the inner layer, in contact with the heart muscle itself. The parietal pericardium is the outer, fibrous layer.