Welcome to Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts

This site is a web-based resource of cardiovascular physiology concepts that has been written for students, teachers, and health professionals. The materials on this website focus on physiological concepts that serve as the basis of cardiovascular disease. Anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, biochemistry, etc. are not included except where material from these disciplines might help to explain a physiological concept. Therefore, the student should consult other reference sources for more detailed information related to those disciplines.

The contents of this site can be discovered by several routes. The Search link enables a search of all content using individual words. The Glossary link provides a list of cardiovascular physiology keywords that are linked to the content. The Contents link and Quick Topic Links provide an organizational structure for the study of cardiovascular disorders. Finally, the Guided Learning tab provides a user with the opportunity to learn about the heart and circulation in a logical sequence, much like in a classroom course.

This website provides abbreviated content of some material found in the textbook by the same author and title (Klabunde, R.E., Cardiovascular Physiology Concepts), which was published in its third edition by Wolters Kluwer (2021). The printed textbook provides many more figures and tables, along with more detailed explanations of cardiovascular concepts, including details on topics not covered by this website. More information on this textbook can be found by clicking on the book cover.

Richard E. Klabunde, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Indianapolis, Indiana

Revised 12/01/2023