I. Introduction
II. Main functions for homeostasis and need for adaptability
A. Transportation
B. Defense
C. Temperature control
D. Acid/base balance
III. Heart
A. Chambers and the cardiac cycle
1. Sequence
2. Pressures
3. Cardiac output
4. Pacemaker
B. Valves
C. Layers - structure and functions
1. Endocardium
2. Myocardium
3. Epicardium
D. Coronary blood flow
E. Cardiac adaptability
IV. Age changes in the heart
A. Resting conditions
B. Cardiac adaptability
C. Exercise and the aging heart
V. Diseases of the heart
A. Incidence and significance
B. Coronary artery disease - causes, effects,
and prevention
1. Functions
of coronary arteries
2. Effects of
atherosclerosis
a. Structure of arteries
b. Heart muscle cells
3. Risk factors
and interactions
4. Smoking
5. High blood
pressure
6. High blood
LDLs (low-density lipoproteins)
7. Diabetes
mellitus
8. Family history
9. Advancing
age
10. High blood
homocysteine
11. Physical
inactivity
12. Obesity
13. Stress
14. Menopause
15. Male gender
16. Personality
17. High blood
iron
18. Periodontal
disease
C. Congestive heart failure
1. Incidence
2. Causes
3. Effects
D. Valvular heart disease
VI. Arteries - structure and functions
A. Inner layer
B. Middle layer: larger arteries
1. Strength
2. Elasticity
C. Middle layer: smaller arteries
D. Outer layer
VII. Age changes in arteries
A. Inner and outer layers
B. Middle layer: large arteries
1. Intercellular
materials
2. Size and
shape
3. Effects on
blood pressure
C. Middle layer: smaller arteries
1. Responsiveness
2. Thermoregulation
D. Number of arteries
VIII. Atherosclerosis: an arterial disease
A. Atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis
B. Importance
C. Development and effects
1. Blood flow
2. Bleeding
D. Mechanisms promoting atherosclerosis
1. Endothelial
dysfunction
2. Free radicals
3. Blood LDLs
4. Elastase
5. Glycation
6. Heat shock
proteins
7. Insulin-like
growth factors
E. Prevention
IX. Capillaries
A. Structure and function
B. Age changes in capillaries
X. Veins
A. Structure and function
1. Layers
2. Valves
B. Age changes in veins
C. Diseases of veins - causes and effects
1. Varicose
veins
2. Hemorrhoids
XI. Lymphatics and the spleen
A. Structure and functions
B. Age changes in lymphatics and the spleen
XII. Blood - components and functions
A. Plasma
B. Red blood cells
C. Platelets
D. White blood cells
E. Age changes in blood
1. Plasma
2. Red blood
cells
3. Platelets
4. White blood
cells
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©Copyright 1999 - Augustine G. DiGiovanna - All rights reserved.
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and only for use by instructors and students in courses where students
are required to purchase the book HUMAN AGING: BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
by Augustine G. DiGiovanna, The McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, 1994 or
2000; (2) If prior written permission is obtained from Augustine G. DiGiovanna.