Cardiovascular Physiology

Modern cardiovascular physiologyCardiovascular physiology is an evolving discipline. William Harvey published his classic treatise in 1628, describing the circulation of blood and the role of the heart. Since then, great strides have been made in the field of cardiovascular physiology. New insights in molecular and cellular biology are changing the way we think about the heart, the circulatory systemCirculatory system, and their interaction. It is imperative for anesthesiologists to have a good knowledge of cardiovascular physiologyCardiovascular physiology as it plays a central role in patient care in the perioperativePerioperative setting. The first part of this chapter focuses on describing the electrical activityElectrical activity of the heart and its interaction with the contractile apparatus to generate a cardiac cycleCardiac cycle. The second part of the chapter deals with regulation of the heart and cardiac reflexes. The chapter concludes with a brief description of the circulatory systemCirculatory system, the microcirculationMicrocirculation, and important aspects of coronary blood flowCoronary blood flow.