Main description:

This book discusses the underlying mechanisms connecting the brain and heart. The physiology of the brain is such that it is easily affected by any altered physiology of other systems, which in turn may compromise cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Together, the brain and heart control our body systems, allowing them to function automatically. This interaction between the brain and other systems makes it important for us to understand how any kind of injury to the brain can produce complications in remote organs or systems, such as the heart. The central nervous system is responsible for vegetative function and is central to homeostasis. Further, central nervous system responses are linked to the ongoing function of other organ systems e.g. feeding, thermoregulation, reproduction and muscle activity. It is therefore logical that neural control of the cardiovascular system must also interact with the neural control of other organ systems. This book explains in detail stressed cardiac conditions, discussing the pathophysiology and proposed treatment, and also describing lesser-known crosstalks between the acutely or chronically affected brain and heart.

Contents:

I. IntroductionII. Neurophysiology and Cardiovascular systema. Organization of Medullary nuclei for regulation of the CVSi. Nucleus tractussolitariusii. Rostral Ventro lateral medullary regioniii. Caudal Ventro lateral medullary regioniv. Nucleus accumbensb. Organization of spinal and peripheral neural connectioni. Intermedio-Lateral hornii. Para-vertebral sympathetic chain iii. Cranial and caudal parasympathetic outflowc. Integrated neural regulation of CVS i. Negative feedback mechanism as primary regulatory mechanismii. Receptorsiii. Afferentiv. centrev. efferentsd. Interaction of medullary-spinal CVS centre with neural centres controlling other organ systems.e. Cardiovascular reflexesIII. Normal physiology of Circulatory System1. Organization of cardiovascular system 2. Determinants of pump function of heart3. Features of arterial, venous and capillary circulation 4. Biophysics of Cardiovascular system5. Regulation of blood pressure6. Regulation of circulatory blood volume 7. Normal values physiological values and ranges of various parameters like HR, CO, BP etc.IV. Brain - Heart crosstalk1. Stress-related cardiomyopathy syndromes in anaesthesia and intensive care2. Pathophysiology of Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy3. Neurocardiogenic injury and cardioregulatory centers4. Neurocardiogenic injury and Polymorphisms of adrenergic receptors5. Monitoring for Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy6. Proposed treatment for Neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy