Final answer:
The structure that attaches to the surface of the heart is the visceral pericardium or epicardium, which secretes lubricating serous fluid to reduce friction during heartbeats.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure that attaches to the surface of the heart is known as the visceral pericardium, also called the epicardium. This layer consists of a simple squamous epithelium called mesothelium, supported by areolar connective tissue. The visceral pericardium secretes lubricating serous fluid into the pericardial cavity, diminishing friction as the heart beats. The other options provided, such as the visceral pleura and the parietal pericardium, are associated with different areas; the visceral pleura is related to the lungs, while the parietal pericardium is the outer layer of the pericardium that is fused to the fibrous pericardium, not directly to the heart. The visceral peritoneum, on the other hand, is associated with the abdominal organs, not the heart.