Preface vii Recommended reading viii Sources of illustrations ix Acknowledgements x List of abbreviations xi About the companion website xiii Introduction 1 1 Overview of the cardiovascular system 2 Anatomy and histology 5 2 Gross anatomy and histology of the heart 6 3 Vascular anatomy 8 4 Vascular histology and smooth muscle cell ultrastructure 10 Blood and body fluids 13 5 Constituents of blood 14 6 Erythropoiesis, haemoglobin and anaemia 16 7 Haemostasis 18 8 Thrombosis and anticoagulants 20 9 Blood groups and transfusions 22 Cellular physiology 25 10 Membrane potential, ion channels and pumps 26 11 Electrophysiology of cardiac muscle and origin of the heartbeat 28 12 Cardiac muscle excitation-contraction coupling 30 13 Electrical conduction system in the heart 32 14 The electrocardiogram 34 15 Vascular smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling 36 Form and function 39 16 Cardiac cycle 40 17 Control of cardiac output 42 18 Haemodynamics 44 19 Blood pressure and flow in the arteries and arterioles 46 20 The microcirculation and lymphatic system and diapedesis 48 21 Fluid filtration in the microcirculation 50 22 The venous system 52 23 Local control of blood flow 54 24 Regulation of the vasculature by the endothelium 56 25 The pulmonary, skeletal muscle and fetal circulations 58 26 The coronary, cutaneous and cerebral circulations 60 Integration and regulation 63 27 Cardiovascular reflexes 64 28 Autonomic control of the cardiovascular system 66 29 The control of blood volume 68 30 Cardiovascular effects of exercise 70 31 Shock and haemorrhage 72 History, examination and investigations 75 32 History and examination of the cardiovascular system 76 33 Cardiac imaging 78 Pathology and therapeutics 81 34 Risk factors for cardiovascular disease 82 35 β?blockers, angiotensin?converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and Ca2+ channel blockers 84 36 Hyperlipidaemias 86 37 Atherosclerosis 88 38 Mechanisms of primary hypertension 90 39 Treatment of hypertension 92 40 Stable, microvascular, and vasospastic angina 94 41 Pharmacological management of stable, microvascular and vasospastic angina 96 42 Non?ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE?ACS) 98 43 Coronary revascularisation 100 44 Pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction 102 45 ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 104 46 Heart failure 106 47 Treatment of chronic heart failure 108 48 Mechanisms of tachyarrhythmia 112 49 Atrial fibrillation 114 50 Other supraventricular arrhythmias 118 51 Ventricular tachyarrhythmias and their non?pharmacological management 120 52 Pharmacological treatment of tachyarrhythmias 122 53 Conduction system abnormalities and pacing 124 54 Diseases of the aortic valve 126 55 Diseases of the mitral valve 128 56 Congenital heart disease 130 57 Cardiomyopathies and channelopathies 132 58 Pulmonary hypertension 134 59 Stroke 136 Index 139.