First-Year Medicine
Block 5: Cardiovascular System
The major learning objectives of the Cardiovascular Block are:
- Embryonic development of the heart and vasculature.
- Structure, histology, and function of the heart and blood vessels.
- Innervation of the chest and thorax.
- Lymphatics in the chest and thorax.
- Electrical excitation of the heart, ECG.
- Excitation-contraction coupling, properties of cardiac muscle, cardiac
cycle.
- Hemodynamics.
- Vascular beds, special circulations.
- Endothelial function.
- Arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, venous return. Regulation
of cardiac output.
- Valvular disease, channelopathies and arrhythmias.
- Genetics of the cardiovascular system.
- Neuronal (autonomic) and hormonal regulation of the heart and vasculature.
- Radiology of the thorax.
