Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena

The cardiovascular system is responsible for pumping blood to the body’s cells, tissues, and organs. The heart is the central component of the cardiovascular system, and it is responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels to the rest of the body. The cardiovascular system is also responsible for maintaining the body’s blood pressure and for regulating the flow of blood to different parts of the body.

There are several cardiovascular physiological phenomena that play important roles in maintaining the body’s overall health and function. These phenomena include:

Cardiac cycle: The cardiac cycle refers to the sequence of events that occurs in the heart during each heartbeat. It includes the contraction of the heart muscles (systole) and the relaxation of the heart muscles (diastole).

Blood pressure: Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of the arteries as it is pumped through the body by the heart. Normal blood pressure is typically measured as two numbers, with the upper number representing systolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries during heart contractions) and the lower number representing diastolic pressure (the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats).

Cardiac output: Cardiac output is the amount of blood that the heart pumps per minute. It is calculated by multiplying the heart rate (number of beats per minute) by the stroke volume (amount of blood pumped per beat).

Heart rate: Heart rate is the number of times the heart beats per minute. It is typically measured in beats per minute (bpm).

Understanding these and other cardiovascular physiological phenomena is important for healthcare professionals in order to accurately diagnose and treat cardiovascular diseases and conditions.