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PHYG 202 : CARDIOPULMONARY PHYSIOLOGY

Credits: 
4

Cardiovascular System
This course deals with the heart and the circulation system. At the end of this course the student will be able to explain how the heart works as a pump and the role of the chambers, valves and the muscle. Special emphasis will be placed on heart sounds, E.C.G. and introduction to abnormal cardiac function. In the second part of this course, the student will be introduced to the physics of haemodymics and the regulation of circulation. This will enable the student to understand the responses of cardiovascular system to stress, e.g. haemorrhage and exercise, and to develop an awareness of the disturbed physiology underlying some major cardiovascular problems such as heart failure and cardiac ischaemia. In addition, during this course, the student will acquire basic preliminary skills in using laboratory and bed side techniques commonly encountered in clinical cardiology e.g. recording an E.C.G., and measuring blood pressure and pulse.

  •  Overview, function, components and architecture of the CVS
  • The heart as a pump: mechanical and electrical events
  •  Electrocardiography
  •  Clinical correlates
  •  The vascular tree: structural adaptation of the vascular segments and their functions
  •  Haemodynamics
  • Regulatory mechanisms; regulation of cardiac output, systemic blood pressure, general and regional blood flow
  •  Circulation through special regions: cerebral, renal, coronary, splanchnic and skeletal muscle blood flow.
  •  Cardiovascular adjustments in health and disease

Laboratory practicals: Physiology of cardiac muscle, factors affecting cardiac output, effect of haemorrhage and replacement transfusion. Blood pressure measurement and ECG in man.
Pulmonary physiology
The course covers the general functions of the respiratory system but concentrates mainly on the role of the system as a gas exchange organ. This involves a consideration of the principles of the mechanics of breathing, ventilation, gas transfer, gas transport in blood, and the regulation of ventilation. The acute changes and the compensatory response of the respiratory system to high altitude.
Students will be expected to relate above principles to the diagnosis, presentation, pathophysiology and management of common clinical respiratory conditions such as acute bronchial asthma, acute airway obstruction, and chest wall injuries etc.

  •  Organization of the respiratory system
  •  The physics of breathing
  •  Gas laws
  •  Spirometry
  •  Elastic and none elastic forces
  •  Surface tension
  •  Dynamics of ventilation
  •  Work of breathing
  •  Transport and exchange of gases
  •  Clinical problems of gas transport and exchange
  •  The pulmonary circulation
  •  Ventilation perfusion relationships and clinical correlates
  •  Regulation of respiration
  •  Respiratory adjustments in health and disease
  •  Pulmonary function tests