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16: Introduction to the Cardiovascular System

  • Page ID
    90330
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    • 16.0: Introduction
      This page discusses the heart's role in the cardiovascular system, emphasizing its importance in blood circulation and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases impacting 127 million Americans. It highlights the significant health and financial burden of these diseases, which account for 1 in 5 deaths and cost $239.9 billion annually.
    • 16.1: Introduction to the Heart, Circulation, and Blood Flow
      This page offers a comprehensive overview of cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, detailing the heart's structure and function, including circulation dynamics and blood pressure regulation. It discusses mechanisms like the baroreceptor reflex and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in maintaining blood pressure and addresses conditions like hypertension and hypotension.
    • 16.2: Pumping Action of the Heart
      This page explains the heart's pumping action through the cardiac cycle, detailing ventricular systole and diastole along with the mechanics of blood flow to the lungs and body. It highlights the left ventricle's greater workload and describes how pressure gradients and valve function guide blood movement. Furthermore, it covers cardiac output and factors affecting it, such as heart rate and stroke volume, which are essential for comprehending heart function and overall hemodynamics.
    • 16.3: Conduction of Electrical Impulses
      This page covers the heart's electrical conduction system, focusing on its role in regulating heart rate and rhythm through automaticity and conductivity. It explains myocardial contractility and introduces electrocardiography (ECG) as a diagnostic tool. Additionally, it discusses dysrhythmias, which are irregular heart rhythms, detailing conditions like tachycardia and bradycardia, and categorizes rhythms as regularly or irregularly irregular.
    • 16.4: Chapter Summary
      This page introduces the cardiovascular system and its pharmacology, covering the heart's structure, including its chambers and valves, and detailing the roles of arteries and veins in oxygen transport. It explains the cardiac cycle phases—systole and diastole—and describes the conduction system, highlighting the sinoatrial node's role as the heart's pacemaker. Additionally, it emphasizes the electrocardiogram as an essential diagnostic tool for monitoring heart rate and rhythm.
    • 16.5: Key Terms
      This page provides an overview of cardiovascular concepts, including the action potential in heart cells, key structures like arteries and ventricles, and their roles in circulation. It explains the heart cycle phases, cardiac output, contractility, and vascular resistance. Dysrhythmias are discussed along with electrocardiography (EKG) as a diagnostic tool. Additionally, it briefly touches on preload, afterload, and Purkinje fibers.
    • 16.6: Review Questions
      This page features exercises on cardiac function and anatomy, covering the cardiac cycle, heart chambers, coronary arteries, and blood flow mechanics. It emphasizes the heart's electrical conduction system, including the roles of nodes in regulating rhythm. Key terms like automaticity and dysrhythmia are defined, along with clinical considerations such as myocardial infarction and bradycardia. The exercises consist of multiple-choice questions to test knowledge, with correct answers supplied.


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