Heart Infection & Inflammation

The three layers · endocarditis · myocarditis · pericarditis · rheumatic disease
The heart wall has three layers. There is an outer sac (pericardium), the muscle (myocardium), and the inner lining with the valves (endocardium). Each layer has its own "-itis." Click a condition to see which layer is under attack, and what that does.

Which layer is inflamed?

The layer that is affected lights up. Endocarditis grows vegetations on the valves. Rheumatic disease scars them.
Pericardium · the outer sac that protects the heart
Myocardium · the muscle that pumps
Endocardium · the inner lining and the valves
Pick a condition on the right to see which layer it attacks.
🔎 Peripheral signs of endocarditis, from bits of a vegetation breaking off:
Splinter hemorrhagesthin red streaks under the nails
Roth spotsretinal spots with white centers
Osler nodestender bumps on the fingers and toes
Pick a conditionFour ways the heart gets inflamed

👆 Pick a condition

This condition

The one-liner map

Three layers, three "-itis": pericarditis is the sac, with sharp chest pain and a friction rub. Myocarditis is the muscle, giving a weak pump → failure or arrhythmia. Endocarditis is the lining and valves, with bacteria, vegetations, and emboli. Rheumatic heart disease is the odd one out. It is not a live infection. It is an autoimmune attack on the valves after strep throat.