The Cardiovascular System I. [antikvár]

Preface The first edition of the Handbook of Physiology section on Circulation appeared between 1962 and 1965. This publication of the American Physiological Society consisted of three volumes that covered many aspects of the physiology of the heart and circulation. Since that time knowledge has advanced slowly in some areas of physiology, more quickly in others. Meanwhile the total body of information has grown almost exponentially, making it increasingly difficult to organize and meld old and new data to provide the reader with a comprehensive, critical appraisal of cardiovascular physiology. Nevertheless, the aim of the revised second Handbook section, retitled The Cardiovascular System, is to accomplish these goals and produce authoritative reference works with extensive bibliographies. The books will be useful to students of physiology at all stages of study, to professional physiologists, and to interested scientists in related disciplines. The utility of the Handbook of Physiology, Circulation has been proved by its continued and ongoing use by many investigators and teachers, a condition the editors hope will also be true for this revision, but the accelerated pace of cardiovascular and other research will probably demand a subsequent edition in a shorter interval of time. The Cardiovascular System will consist of five volumes on the heart, vascular smooth muscle, the microcirculation, the peripheral and organ system circulation, and cardiovascular pathophysiology. It is anticipated that these volumes will be published within the next three to four years and will cover all aspects of cardiovascular physiology. The present volume, The Heart, consists of twenty-five chapters that provide a broad coverage of normal cardiac function. The volume is divided into seven sections: 1) Development and Morphology of the Heart, 2) Electrophysiology, 3) Cardiac Contraction, 4) Neural Factors in Cardiac Function, 5) Humoral Factors in Cardiac Function, 6) Myocardial Metabolism, and 7) Myocardial Blood Supply. The section on morphology includes three chapters on the embryology, cellular interactions, and biochemical changes during development of the heart, one chapter on gross morphology and histology, and one chapter on cardiac ultrastructure. The section on electrical activity contains chapters on the origin of the resting potential, electrogenesis of the action potential and automaticity, conduction of the action potential, excitation and the electrocardiogram, and electromechanical coupling. The section on cardiac contraction includes five chapters on the heart as a pump, mechanical properties, force-interval relationship, elastic properties of the myocardium, and control of cardiac performance. The section on neural factors contains five chapters on neural control, baroreceptor regulation, chemoreceptor regulation, cardiac reflexes, and central nervous system influences. The section on humoral factors consists of a single chapter on adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms in the regulation of myocardial contractility. The section on metabolism of the heart includes three chapters that consider cardiac energetics, carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism, and protein metabolism. The last section describes the coronary circulation. The editors are very grateful for the superb work of the copy editors, Catherine B. Carlston, Cay Butler, and Anne Hayes, who worked so diligently and patiently with each author; Maiy L. Crabill assisted by proofreading many of the chapters. Particular thanks goes to Mrs. Carlston, the chief copy editor for this volume, for her dedication, tolerance of the editors' foibles, and delightful everpresent sense of humor. We are also very appreciative of the work of Brenda B. Rauner, who served as production manager. But especially we wish to thank the many outstanding contributors who have given so much of their time and effort to the realization of this volume. robert m. berne nick sperelakis