Physiology of the Heart

Structure of the heart and cardiac muscle; membrane structure and function; energetics of muscle; anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis; oxidative metabolism; energy utilization (work and heat); contractile proteins; mechanism and control of the cardia contractile process; series elasticity "active state", length tension relationship and cardiac mechanics; excitation - contraction coupling - calcium and other ion fluxes across the plasma membrane; excitation - contraction coupling - calcium and other ion fluxes across the plasma membrane; excitation - contraction coupling - calcium fluxes across the sarcoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria; receptors, coupling proteins, and second messengers; myocardial contractility - force, velocity, length and time; regulation of myocardial contractility; the heart as a muscular pump; the working heart; indices of myocardial contractility and relaxation; ion channels of the heart; the cardiac action potential; the electrocardiogram; the arrhythmias 1 - introduction and mechanisms; the arrhythmias II - conduction abnormalities and block; the arrhythmias III - premature systoles, tachycardia, flutter and fibrillation; the ischemic heart; heart failure.