[Function and importance of the pericardium].

The pericardium plays an important role in the normal cardiac work. Its major functions include: maintenance of adequate cardiac position, separation from the surrounding tissues of the mediastinum, protection against ventricular dilatation, maintenance of low transmural pressure, facilitation of ventricular interdependence and atrial filling. Congenital absence of the pericardium should be differentiated first of all from atrial septal defect ostium secundum type, idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery and tumours of the left mediastinum.