Final answer:
The term 'pericardial' refers to the area surrounding the heart. It describes the pericardium or pericardial sac, a double-walled membrane composed of a protective fibrous layer and a lubricating serous layer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using our understanding of prefixes and root words, the term pericardial can be broken down into 'peri-' meaning 'around' and the root word 'cardium' which is derived from the Latin 'kardia' meaning 'heart'. Therefore, pericardial pertains to the area surrounding the heart. The pericardium or pericardial sac, is a double-walled membrane that surrounds the heart, consisting of two main sublayers: the fibrous and serous pericardium. The fibrous pericardium is a tough, dense connective tissue that protects and fixes the heart within the thoracic cavity, while the serous pericardium, made up of the parietal and visceral layers, provides lubrication to reduce friction during heart movements.