Description: While the heart is beating, this 3D medical of a cardiac tamponade depicts the compression of the heart that occurs when blood or fluid builds up in the space between the myocardium (the muscle of the heart) and the pericardium (the outer covering sac of the heart). It also briefly illustrates a pericardiocentesis procedure where the fluid is aspirated from the pericardium to relieve the excessive pressure off the heart.

Last Updated: Aug 16th, 2012