Cardiovascular Pathophysiology

Written by a distinguished group of physicians and scientists, this text provides a thorough introduction to the basic mechanisms of cardiovascular disease. Each chapter begins with a brief overview of normal structure and function and them offers a detailed discussion of pathophysiologic mechanisms. Physical examination of the cardiovascular system, invasive and noninvasive diagnostic methods, and medical and surgical treatment are discussed in terms of their relation to pathophysiology, so that clinical practice is seen to proceed logically from the nature of the underlying disease process. Drawn from a course team-taught by the authors at Washington University, this book is intended for second-year medical students studying the cardiovascular system as part of a systemic pathophysiology course, and for third or fourth-year students on cardiology clerkships. As a concise account of the anatomic physiologic, and pathologic basis of clinical cardiology, it will also be valuable to residents in cardiology and internal medicine.