What condition involves inflammation within the heart?

Endocarditis refers specifically to the inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, known as the endocardium. This condition can arise due to infections, often caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and adhering to damaged areas of the heart. The inflammation can lead to serious complications, such as damage to the heart valves and the development of abscesses.

While pericarditis (inflammation of the outer layer of the heart) and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle itself) are also conditions that affect the heart, they do not pertain to the endocardium, which is the specific focus of endocarditis. Cardiomyopathy is a general term for diseases of the heart muscle that affect its size, shape, and ability to pump blood but does not specifically indicate inflammation. Thus, the focus on the inner lining clearly identifies endocarditis as the correct answer in relation to this question.