Fundamentals of cardiology for the non-cardiologist

Abstract

Awareness of the fundamentals of cardiac anatomy, physiology and various disease states is essential to clinicians managing a patient with cardiac pathology. This chapter summarizes the key aspects of cardiac structure and function, as well as providing an overview of the broad range of cardiac pathology. The chapter discusses the various presentations of cardiac disease and the clinical assessment that is performed. Diseases discussed include those of cardiac rhythm, vessels, valves, and muscle as well as congenital heart disease. The various modalities of investigation and basic principles of management are also reviewed.