Neurocardiology

During the past two decades, a great deal of research has been conducted in an effort to delineate the neuroanatomical and functional organization of the autonomic nervous system which controls cardiac function. This groundbreaking volume provides a full description of current knowledge about the neuronal mechanisms regulating the heart. It gives a coherent overview of the function of populations of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems that are involved in maintaining cardiac function. Recently developed concepts about the function of afferent and efferent autonomic neurons regulating the heart, as well as those interposed between, are presented in a comprehensive fashion from the level of central neurons to those innervating the heart. Data provided in this book challenge currently held concepts about how central and peripheral autonomic neurons interact to regulate the heart. An authoritative and well-organized volume, Neurocardiology highlights current concepts about cardiac afferent mechanisms responsible for cardiovascular reflexes, as well as the role of efferent autonomic neurons in regulating cardiodynamics and coronary artery blood flow and in generating cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, neurohumoral regulation of cardiac myocyte function is brought up to date with particular emphasis on myocyte regulation in disease states. New ideas about intrinsic and extrinsic cardiac intrathoracic neurons, the role of spinal cord and medullary and higher center neurons are presented. The final chapters focus on the role that autonomic neurons play in the maintentance of cardiac function in the conscious state as well as in two major clinical conditions, dysrythimias and heart failure. Thus, this comprehensive work offers a succinct overview of the function of central and peripheral autonomic neurons regulating the heart in normal and disease states.