CARDIOLOGY♥️

Apuntes

• Cardiology Overview: Insider's Guide to Cardiology for the USMLE Step 1 Cardiology is a widely tested subject on the USMLE Step 1, so it is important that you gain a thorough understanding of both the physiology and pathology of the heart. Become well-versed in pressure-volume loops, the Wiggers diagram, murmurs (as you can expect at least two audio-based questions on your USMLE exam), action potentials of atrial and ventricular myocytes compared to pacemaker cells, and common pathological conditions of the heart (e.g., necrosis, restrictive heart failure, cardiomyopathies, and endocarditis, to name just a few). Cardiac pharmacology is also a high-yield subject. The majority of cardiology questions on the USMLE will require you to apply concepts rather than memorize facts, so working through the cases in this chapter will be of tremendous value in your preparation for this subject. • Basic Concepts—Hemodynamics **1. What are the mathematical determinants of arterial blood pressure?** The mean arterial pressure (MAP) is determined by the amount of blood the heart pumps into the arterial system in a given time (e.g., cardiac output [CO]) and the resistance the arteries exert (e...