An Introduction to Cardiovascular Physiology 5E

Summary:
A good understanding of cardiovascular physiology is fundamental to understanding cardiovascular disease, exercise performance and many other aspects of human physiology. Thus, cardiovascular physiology is a major component of all undergraduate courses in physiology, biomedical science and medicine, as well as postgraduate study programmes for MRCP and FRCA.

The substantially revised, updated fifth edition of this well-respected textbook offers all the information needed by students and medical examination candidates, in a clear, logical and well-illustrated manner, with many useful line diagrams and tables that support the text and provide proof of concepts.

An Introduction to Cardiovascular Physiology provides a comprehensive but accessible account of cardiovascular physiology, from the fundamentals of how the cardiovascular system works in both health and disease, through to more complex physiological menchanisms and pathways. The Learning Objectives, Overview and Summary sections are helpful for checking understanding. The fifth edition has been thoroughly revised and brought fully up to date, while retaining the successful approach and features of the fourth edition of this popular textbook.

• Clear uncluttered writing style
• Highly illustrated with detailed line images

• Clinical cases encourage active, problem-based learning

• Further Reading sections feature primary research literature, review papers and books
• Companion website

Table of Contents:
1. Overview of the cardiovascular system
2. The cardiac cycle
3. The cardiac myocyte: excitation and contraction
4. Initiation and nervous control of heartbeat
5. Electrocardiography and arrhythmias
6. Control of stroke volume and cardiac output
7. Assessment of cardiac output and peripheral pulse
8. Haemodynamics: flow, pressure and resistance
9. The endothelial cell
10. The microcirculation and solute exchange
11. Circulation of fluid between plasma, interstitium and lymph
12. Vascular smooth muscle: excitation, contraction and relaxation
13. Control of blood vessels: I. Intrinsic control
14. Control of blood vessels: II. Extrinsic control by nerves and hormones
15. Specialization in individual circulations
16. Cardiovascular receptors, reflexes and central control
17. Co-ordinated cardiovascular responses
18. Cardiovascular responses in pathological situations

About the Author(s):
J Rodney Levick DSc DPhil MA MRCP BM BCh(Oxon)
Professor of Physiology 
St George's Hospital Medical School
University of London, UK

Readership:
Core: The work is intended for undergraduate medical students and physiology students primarily. Also undergraduate students in the areas of human and animal physiology, biological sciences, cell and