The cardiovascular system at a glance

Preface; Recommended reading; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1: Overview of the cardiovascular system; Blood vessel functions; Anatomy and histology; 2: Gross anatomy and histology of the heart; Gross anatomy of the heart (Figure 2a); Structure of the myocardium; Coronary circulation (Figure 2f); 3: Vascular anatomy; The systemic circulation; Arteries; Arterial anastomoses; Veins; The pulmonary circulation; The splanchnic circulation; The lymphatic system; 4: Vascular histology and smooth muscle cell ultrastructure.

Exchange vessel structureSmooth muscle cell ultrastructure; Blood and body fluids; 5: Constituents of blood; Plasma; Ionic composition; Proteins; Blood cells; Erythrocytes; Leucocytes (white cells) and platelets; 6: Erythropoiesis, haemoglobin and anaemia; Erythropoiesis; Haemoglobin; Anaemia; 7: Haemostasis; Primary haemostasis (Figure 7a); Formation of the blood clot (Figures 7b, c); Inhibitors of haemostasis and fibrinolysis; Defects in haemostasis; 8: Thrombosis and anticoagulants; Thrombosis; Antiplatelet drugs (Figure 8b); Anticoagulant drugs (Figure 8c); Some laboratory investigations.

9: Blood groups and transfusionsBlood groups; The ABO system; Rh groups; Other blood groups; Complications of blood transfusions; Blood storage; Cellular physiology; 10: Membrane potential, ion channels and pumps; Resting membrane potential (Figure 10a); Ion channels and gating (Figure 10b); Ion pumps and exchangers (Figure 10c); Ion pumps and membrane potential; 11: Electrophysiology of cardiac muscle and origin of the heart beat; Ventricular muscle action potential (Figure 11a); Initiation of the action potential; The plateau (phase 2); Repolarization (phase 3); Role of Na+-Ca2+ exchange.

Sinoatrial nodeOther regions of the heart (Figure 11d); 12: Cardiac muscle excitation-contraction coupling; Initiation of contraction; Generation of tension; Relaxation mechanisms; Regulation of contractility; Influence of heart rate; 13: Electrical conduction system in the heart; Electrical conduction in cardiac muscle (Figure 13a); Conduction pathways in the heart (Figure 13b); Sinoatrial node; Atrial conduction; The atrioventricular node; Bundle of His and Purkinje system; Abnormalities of impulse generation or conduction (see also Chapters 48-50); 14: The electrocardiogram.

Recording the ECGGeneral features of the ECG (Figure 14b); Basic interpretation of the ECG (Figure 14e); 15: Vascular smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling; Regulation of contraction by Ca2+ and myosin phosphorylation (see shaded area in left cell of Figure 15); Vasoconstricting mechanisms; Effects of IP3 and diacylglycerol; Ca2+ influx mechanisms; Ca2+ removal and vasodilator mechanisms (see right cell of Figure 15); Form and function; 16: Cardiac cycle; The pressure-volume loop; Heart sounds and murmurs; 17: Control of cardiac output; Ventricular function curves.

Introduction: Overview of the cardiovascular system. Anatomy and histology. Gross anatomy and histology of the heart

Vascular anatomy

Vascular histology and smooth muscle cell ultrastructure. Blood and body fluids. Constituents of blood

Erythropoiesis, haemoglobin and anaemia

Haemostasis and thrombosis

Blood groups and transfusions. Celluar physiology. Membrane potential, ion channels and pumps

Electrophysiology of cardiac muscle and the origin of the heart beat

Excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle cells

Electrical conduction system in the heart

Vascular smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling. Form and function. Cardiac cycle

Control of cardiac output and Starling's law of the heart

Haemodynamics

Blood pressure and flow in the arteries and arterioles

The microcirculation and lymphatic system

Fluid filtration in the microcirculation

The venous system

Local control of blood flow

Regulation of the vasculature by the endothelium

The coronary, skeletal muscle, cutaneous and cerebral circulations

The pulmonary and fetal circulations. Integration and regulation. Cardiovascular reflexes

Autonomic control of the cardiovascular system

The control of blood volume

Cardiovascular effects of exercise

Shock and haemorrhage. History, examination and investigations. History and examination of the cardiovascular system

Cardiovascular investigations

The electrocardiogram. Pathology and therapeutics. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease

Beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and Ca2+-channel blockers

Hyperlipidaemias

Atherosclerosis

Treatment of hypertension

Mechanisms of primary hypertension

Stable and variant angina

Pharmacological management of stable and variant angina

Unstable angina and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

Revascularization

Pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction.

Clinical aspects of acute mycardial infarction (STEMI)

Thrombosis, anticoagulants and thrombolytics

Chronic heart failure

Mechanisms of arrhythmia

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and non-pharmacological treatment of arrhythmias

Pharmacological treatment of arrhythmias

Diseases of the aortic valve

Diseases of the mitral valve

Congenital heart disease. Self-assessment case studies. Case studies and questions

Answers.

Anatomy and histology

Blood and body fluids

Biochemistry and cellular physiology

Form and function

Integration and regulation

Pathology and therapeutics

Case studies : diagnosis, treatment and results.