Simulating the Beating Heart within the Pericardium using Finite Element Analysis.

The pericardium is a double walled sac, surrounding the heart and consists of a dense network of collagen fibers. During the contraction, the epicardial surface glides on the inner surface of the pericardium. The pericardial fluid between these two surfaces allows almost frictionless motion. In this work an electromechanical simulation framework was used to simulate the motion of the contracting heart inside the pericardium.