RMD - 513 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems

This course is a survey of the normal development, structure and function of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system, including the heart, blood vessels, lungs, trachea and larynx. In addition the course will cover the organization of the autonomic nervous system and its’ function as it relates to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It will also cover structures of the thoracic wall and their relation to respiratory function. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: describe the anatomic boundaries and relationships, location, structure, and function of the organs and tissues of the cardiovascular system and correlate these to physical exam findings, radiographic images and ultrastructural images; explain the fundamental concepts that govern fluid physics; describe how blood circulates through the body including structure and function of specialized circulatory systems (portal, coronary, pulmonary, lymphatic, and venous) and the mechanisms that maintain vascular tone and circulating volume in changing conditions; using the heart as an example, describe the mechanisms of membrane transport and ion movement; explain how these result in the generation, propagation and transmission of information within and between cells and tissues; explain the autonomic nervous system’s control of the cardiovascular system; describe the structure and function of the heart as a pump including the mechanics of cardiac function; describe the alterations in normal structure and function that occur with cardiovascular disease; describe the regulation of body temperature. Required Credit Hours: (1)