Which layer physically covers the heart and is attached at the apex?

• A. Fibrous Pericardium
• B. Visceral Pericardium
• C. Parietal Pericardium
• D. Endocardium

Answer: (B)

The layer that directly covers the heart and remains attached to its surface, including at the apex, is the visceral pericardium (the epicardium). It is the inner layer of the serous pericardium and lies right on the myocardium, extending over the heart all the way to its tip. This layer is continuous with the parietal pericardium at the great vessels, and the space between them is the pericardial cavity containing fluid.

The fibrous pericardium is the tough outer layer that anchors the sac to surrounding structures, not the heart’s surface. The endocardium is the lining found inside the heart chambers, not an external covering.