The Cardiovascular System

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. explain the functional organisation of the heart and circulation; 2. enumerate properties of cardiac muscle and conduction system of the heart; 3. explain pace-maker potential and artificial pacemaker; 4. define cardiac cycle and its regulation; 5. state correlate cardiac cycle; 6. discuss electrocardiogram (ECG) and heart sounds; 7. demonstrate ECG-recording and interpretation; 8. explain mechanism of development of arrhythmias; 9. classify blood vessels; 10. explain the mechanism of local control of blood flow; 11. discuss cardiac output measurement and regulation; 12. evaluate arterial pulse; 13. evaluate arterial blood pressure; 14. explain foetal circulation and readjustments at birth; and 15. discuss vascular endothelium in cardiovascular control.

Overall plan and functions of the C.V.S. Physiologic anatomy of the heart. Mechanical events of cardiac cycle, cardiac output and its estimation. E.C.G. The Vascular system. Cross sectional area of different vascular groups, systolic, diastolic, pulse and mean pressures, exchange of fluids across the capillaries, venous and central venous pressures. Integration of C.V.S functions, central control centres, regulation of systemic blood pressure. Cardio-vascular adaptations in health and disease. Circulation through special areas. Vascular endothelium in cardiovascular control.