Basic Physiology for Anaesthetists

Part I. The Basics:

1. General organisation of the body; 2. Cell components and function; 3. Genetics; 4. The cell membrane; 5. Enzymes;

Part II. Respiratory Physiology:

6. The upper airways; 7. The lower airways; 8. Oxygen transport; 9. Carbon dioxide transport; 10. Alveolar diffusion; 11. Ventilation and dead space; 12. Static lung volumes; 13. Spirometry; 14. Hypoxia and shunts; 15. Ventilation-perfusion relationships; 16. Ventilation-perfusion zones in the lung; 17. Oxygen delivery and demand; 18. Alveolar gas equation; 19. Oxygen cascade; 20. Lung compliance; 21. Work of breathing; 22. Control of ventilation; 23. Pulmonary circulation; 24. Oxygen toxicity; 25. Ventilatory failure; 26. Anaesthesia and the lung;

Part III. Cardiovascular Physiology:

27. Cardiac anatomy and function; 28. Cardiac cycle; 29. Cardiac output and it measurement; 30. Starling's law and cardiac dysfunction; 31. Cardiac pressure-volume loops; 32. Cardiac ischaemia; 33. Systemic circulation; 34. Arterial system; 35. Arterial pressure waveforms; 36. Capillaries and endothelium; 37. Venous system; 38. Venous pressure wave forms; 39. Lymphatics; 40. Cardiovascular reflexes; 41. Valsalva manoeuvre; 42. Exercise physiology; 43. Exercise testing;

Part IV. Neurophysiology:

44. Neuronal structure and function; 45. The brain; 46. Cerebrospinal fluid; 47. Blood-brain barrier; 48. Cerebral blood flow; 49. Intracranial pressure and head injury; 50. The spinal cord; 51. Resting membrane potential; 52. Nerve action potential and propagation; 53. Synapses and the neuromuscular junction; 54. Skeletal muscle; 55. Muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs; 56. Smooth muscle; 57. Cardiac muscle; 58. The electrocardiogram; 59. Autonomic nervous system; 60. Pain physiology; 61. The eye and intraocular pressure;

Part V. Gastrointestinal Tract:

62. Saliva, oesophagus and swallowing; 63. Stomach and vomiting; 64. Gastrointestinal digestion and absorption; 65. Liver: anatomy and blood supply; 66. Liver function;

Part VI. Kidney and Body Fluids:

67. Renal function, anatomy and blood flow; 68. Renal filtration and reabsorption; 69. Renal regulation of water and electrolyte balance; 70. Acid-base physiology; 71. Micturition;

Part VII. Blood and Immune System:

72. Haemostasis; 73. Transfusion; 74. Anaemia and polycythaemia; 75. Immune system; 76. Plasma constituents;

Part VIII. Energy Balance:

77. Metabolism; 78. Starvation; 79. Stress response;

Part IX. Endocrine Physiology:

80. Hypothalamus and pituitary; 81. Thyroid, parathyriod and adrenal;

Part X. Developmental physiology;

82. Maternal physiology during pregnancy; 83. Fetal physiology; 84. Paediatric physiology; 85. Physiology of ageing; 86. Physiology of obesity;

Part XI. Environmental Physiology:

87. Altitude; 88. Divide; 89. Temperature regulation;

Index.