What tissue layer surrounds the heart and provides protection?

The pericardium is the tissue layer that surrounds the heart and provides essential protection. It consists of two main layers: the outer fibrous pericardium and the inner serous pericardium. This structure serves to anchor the heart within the chest cavity, providing mechanical support, while also allowing for the heart's movement during its contraction and relaxation cycles.

Additionally, the pericardium contains pericardial fluid, which acts as a lubricant, reducing friction as the heart beats. This protective function is vital to maintain the heart's health and function during physical activity, ensuring that external impacts or movements do not adversely affect the heart's ability to pump blood effectively.

Other options such as the myocardium, endocardium, and epicardium relate to different layers of heart structure but do not serve the same protective role as the pericardium. The myocardium is the muscular layer responsible for contraction, the endocardium lines the inside of the heart chambers, and the epicardium is the outer layer of the heart wall that is part of the heart itself, rather than a protective covering.