Abstract
The heart is an extremely organized and complex organ that serves as the driving force of the circulatory system. As such, the anatomical structure, cellular composition, and conduction pathways of the heart all work together to form an efficient system for repetitive, organized contractions. This chapter will provide an overview of the physiology of cardiac muscle by first providing an overview of how the anatomical features of the heart work together to ensure the unidirectional flow of blood through its chambers and how the heart handles the pressure and volume changes that occur during the different phases of the cardiac cycle. This chapter will then introduce some of the basic mechanisms that regulate cardiac output, including a discussion on how the heart adapts to changes in the volume of blood returning to the heart and how the autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate and strength of contraction.
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