Anatomy
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Cardiovascular Physiology?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Cardiovascular physiology is the study of the heart and circulatory system. A number of medical professionals rely on cardiovascular physiology in their work, including pulmonologists, cardiologists, and cardiothoracic surgeons. Because the cardiovascular system is so important to healthy function of an organism, it is also covered extensively during medical education, ensuring that all medical practitioners understand the basic anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system and lungs.

A number of very complex processes are involved in the function of the heart and circulatory system, from the osmosis which allows blood to deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to the body while picking up waste materials for elimination to the electrical impulses which keep the heart beating. Cardiovascular physiology includes an extensive examination of all of these processes, including the chemistry of the blood, the physical anatomy of the heart and vascular system, and the role of the lungs in the oxygenation of blood.

Cardiovascular physiology involves studying the circulatory system.
Cardiovascular physiology involves studying the circulatory system.

Abnormalities in physiology are also of interest, ranging from diseases which alter blood pressure to congenital heart abnormalities which interfere with normal heart function. Cardiovascular pathology, the study of such abnormalities, also includes an understanding of techniques which can be used to address or monitor them, including the introduction of medications to regulate blood pressure, and artificial pacemakers to normalize heart rhythm.

Part of cardiovascular physiology are the processes that keep the heart beating.
Part of cardiovascular physiology are the processes that keep the heart beating.

Cardiovascular physiologists also study topics like the influence of exercise of the cardiovascular system, the role that diet plays in cardiovascular health, and ways in which people can improve their cardiovascular function. They study individuals with both healthy and diseased hearts and circulatory systems to understand how the body functions and how abnormalities in function influence other systems in the body. This field can also include the study of conditions which impact cardiovascular function, such as diabetes, which can lead to circulatory problems.

Cardiovascular physiologists may study the complications of circulatory problems in diabetics, such as chronic leg ulcers.
Cardiovascular physiologists may study the complications of circulatory problems in diabetics, such as chronic leg ulcers.

A knowledge of cardiovascular physiology can allow a doctor to make a treatment recommendation to a patient, and it can also be used for things like patient education, public health initiatives which are designed to address rising rates of heart disease, and medical imaging studies which assess heart and circulatory function. The vascular system is also of interest to pharmacologists, as it can be used as a highly effective delivery system for medications. Cardiovascular physiology is also a topic of concern to some bodyworkers, who can influence cardiovascular function with their work, as seen when massage therapy inadvertently causes fluid retention by interfering with circulation.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

NathanG

@Mammmood - I think that one of the most important lessons that we can learn about human cardiovascular physiology is that most heart disease problems do not just “come out of nowhere.” It’s not bad luck, except in cases where you have genetic abnormalities.

In my opinion, most heart disease is the result of diet, and this should be lesson number one for educating the lay public on heart issues. It’s a fact that when the Western diet was introduced in otherwise healthy nations like those in Asia, the incidents of heart disease went through the roof.

I think we can prevent a lot of heart disease in America by making people understand more clearly the link between diet and heart health. They don’t need a textbook on cardiovascular physiology to understand that.

Mammmood

While I don’t recommend that we become our own doctors, an introduction to cardiovascular physiology would be beneficial to everyone in my opinion.

Of course, I am recommending a “for dummies” approach here, not the kind of study you get in medical school. The reason I think it’s important for the lay public to know how the heart works is that it will enable people to better recognize life threatening symptoms.

For example, let’s say you suffer from shortness of breath. Well, the main function of the heart is to pump blood and blood is filled with oxygen. That could be the cause of your shortness of breath, a blockage somewhere.

Of course that’s not the only cause; it could be something with your lungs as well, but the heart would be the most important organ to check up on, in my opinion.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Cardiovascular physiology involves studying the circulatory system.
      By: snapgalleria
      Cardiovascular physiology involves studying the circulatory system.
    • Part of cardiovascular physiology are the processes that keep the heart beating.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      Part of cardiovascular physiology are the processes that keep the heart beating.
    • Cardiovascular physiologists may study the complications of circulatory problems in diabetics, such as chronic leg ulcers.
      By: schankz
      Cardiovascular physiologists may study the complications of circulatory problems in diabetics, such as chronic leg ulcers.
    • Cardiovascular physiologists study individuals with both healthy and diseased hearts.
      By: oscar williams
      Cardiovascular physiologists study individuals with both healthy and diseased hearts.
    • Cardiovascular physiology includes the study of how the heart responds to exercise.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Cardiovascular physiology includes the study of how the heart responds to exercise.
    • Riding a bike can help an individual improve cardiovascular health.
      By: Andrey Kiselev
      Riding a bike can help an individual improve cardiovascular health.
    • Knowledge of cardiovascular physiology can help a doctor assess heart and circulatory function using medical imaging studies.
      By: Maurizio Milanesio
      Knowledge of cardiovascular physiology can help a doctor assess heart and circulatory function using medical imaging studies.
    • Cardiovascular physiologists study ways in which people can improve their cardiovascular function.
      By: carmeta
      Cardiovascular physiologists study ways in which people can improve their cardiovascular function.