Philip I. Aaronson, BA, PhD is Reader in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at King's College, London.
Jeremy P. T. Ward, BSc, PhD, FPhysiol is Emeritus Professor of Physiology at King's College, London.
Michelle J. Connolly, BSc, MBBS, PhD, MRCP is a ST6 Interventional Cardiology Fellow, St George's Hospital, London.

Preface vii
Recommended reading viii
Sources of illustrations ix
Acknowledgements x
List of abbreviations xi
About the companion website xiii
Introduction 1
1 Overview of the cardiovascular system 2
Anatomy and histology 5
2 Gross anatomy and histology of the heart 6
3 Vascular anatomy 8
4 Vascular histology and smooth muscle cell ultrastructure 10
Blood and body fluids 13
5 Constituents of blood 14
6 Erythropoiesis, haemoglobin and anaemia 16
7 Haemostasis 18
8 Thrombosis and anticoagulants 20
9 Blood groups and transfusions 22
Cellular physiology 25
10 Membrane potential, ion channels and pumps 26
11 Electrophysiology of cardiac muscle and origin of the heartbeat 28
12 Cardiac muscle excitation-contraction coupling 30
13 Electrical conduction system in the heart 32
14 The electrocardiogram 34
15 Vascular smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling 36
Form and function 39
16 Cardiac cycle 40
17 Control of cardiac output 42
18 Haemodynamics 44
19 Blood pressure and flow in the arteries and arterioles 46
20 The microcirculation and lymphatic system and diapedesis 48
21 Fluid filtration in the microcirculation 50
22 The venous system 52
23 Local control of blood flow 54
24 Regulation of the vasculature by the endothelium 56
25 The pulmonary, skeletal muscle and fetal circulations 58
26 The coronary, cutaneous and cerebral circulations 60
Integration and regulation 63
27 Cardiovascular reflexes 64
28 Autonomic control of the cardiovascular system 66
29 The control of blood volume 68
30 Cardiovascular effects of exercise 70
31 Shock and haemorrhage 72
History, examination and investigations 75
32 History and examination of the cardiovascular system 76
33 Cardiac imaging 78
Pathology and therapeutics 81
34 Risk factors for cardiovascular disease 82
35 beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and Ca¯2+ channel blockers 84
36 Hyperlipidaemias 86
37 Atherosclerosis 88
38 Mechanisms of primary hypertension 90
39 Treatment of hypertension 92
40 Stable, microvascular, and vasospastic angina 94
41 Pharmacological management of stable, microvascular and vasospastic angina 96
42 Non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) 98
43 Coronary revascularisation 100
44 Pathophysiology of acute myocardial infarction 102
45 ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) 104
46 Heart failure 106
47 Treatment of chronic heart failure 108
48 Mechanisms of tachyarrhythmia 112
49 Atrial fibrillation 114
50 Other supraventricular arrhythmias 118
51 Ventricular tachyarrhythmias and their non-pharmacological management 120
52 Pharmacological treatment of tachyarrhythmias 122
53 Conduction system abnormalities and pacing 124
54 Diseases of the aortic valve 126
55 Diseases of the mitral valve 128
56 Congenital heart disease 130
57 Cardiomyopathies and channelopathies 132
58 Pulmonary hypertension 134
59 Stroke 136
Index 139