Regulation of the Circulation

Abstract

THE mammalian circulation is ordinarily subjected to an enormous variety of stresses, and an understanding of the manner in which it responds almost instantaneously to rapidly changing conditions constitutes one of the most exciting chapters of contemporary physiology. Such an understanding is also of critical importance to the clinician, because the clinical manifestations of most cardiovascular disorders arise from an impairment of these responses.The primary functions of the heart are to propel unoxygenated blood to the lungs and to deliver oxygenated blood to the peripheral tissues in accord with their metabolic requirements. These requirements vary greatly from moment to . . .