Cardiology

Cardiology is the branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the heart and blood vessels. The field is commonly divided in the branches of coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians specializing in this field of medicine are called cardiologists.

Anatomy & physiology

Basic anatomy (Structure of the heart)

• Epicardium
• Pericardium
• Myocardium
• Papillary muscle
• Endocardium
• Coronary circulation (Blood supply of the heart)
• Heart valves

Circulatory system (Blood supply of the body)

• Cardiac output
• Heart rate
• Vascular resistance
• Blood vessels

Pulmonary circulation (Oxygenation of the blood)

• Pulmonary artery
• Pulmonary vein

Cardiac pacemaker (Electrical system of the heart)

• Electrical conduction system of the heart
• Action potential
• Ventricular action potential
• Sinoatrial node
• Atrioventricular node
• Bundle of His
• Purkinje fibers

Basic cardiac physiology

• Systole
• Diastole
• Heart sounds
• Preload
• Afterload
• Kussmaul's sign