Cardiovascular Physiology: Questions for Self Assessment

J Rodney Levick is Professor of Physiology, St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, UK.

• Introduction 1. Overview of the cardiovascular system 2. The cardiac cycle 3. Cardiac myocyte excitation and contraction 4. Initiation and nervous control of heart beat 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