Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

peri
- Prefix meaning around or about, as in peri-
cardial (around the heart) and periaortic lymph
nodes (lymph nodes around the aorta).
perianal
Located around the anus, the opening
of the rectum to the outside of the body.
perianal abscess
A local accumulation of pus
that forms next to the anus, causing tender swelling
in that area and pain on defecation.
periaortic
Around the aorta. For example,
periaortic lymph nodes are lymph nodes around the
aorta.
pericardial
Referring to the pericardium, the sac
of fibrous tissue that surrounds the heart.
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
penetrance
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and accumulation of fluid around the heart (peri-
cardial effusion). There are many causes of peri-
carditis, 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 cen-
tral part of the diaphragm and the back of the
breastbone and a double inner coat (the visceral
pericardium, or epicardium), with one layer closely
adherent to the heart and the other lining the inner
surface of the outer coat. The intervening space
between these layers is filled with pericardial fluid.
This small amount of fluid acts as a lubricant to
allow normal heart movement within the chest. Also
known as pericardial sac. See also 
pericarditis.