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Review
. 2015 Apr 26;7(4):204-14.
doi: 10.4330/wjc.v7.i4.204.

Autonomic and endocrine control of cardiovascular function

Richard Gordan  1 , Judith K Gwathmey  1 , Lai-Hua Xie  1
Affiliations
Review

Autonomic and endocrine control of cardiovascular function

Richard Gordan et al. World J Cardiol. .

Abstract

The function of the heart is to contract and pump oxygenated blood to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs. To achieve this goal, a normal human heart must beat regularly and continuously for one's entire life. Heartbeats originate from the rhythmic pacing discharge from the sinoatrial (SA) node within the heart itself. In the absence of extrinsic neural or hormonal influences, the SA node pacing rate would be about 100 beats per minute. Heart rate and cardiac output, however, must vary in response to the needs of the body's cells for oxygen and nutrients under varying conditions. In order to respond rapidly to the changing requirements of the body's tissues, the heart rate and contractility are regulated by the nervous system, hormones, and other factors. Here we review how the cardiovascular system is controlled and influenced by not only a unique intrinsic system, but is also heavily influenced by the autonomic nervous system as well as the endocrine system.

Keywords: Autonomic nervous system; Cardiovascular function; Endocrine system; Heart; Regulation.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Autonomic nervous system regulation of the heart function. The autonomic nervous system affects the rate and force of heart contractions. CNS: Central nervous system; RA: Right atria; LA: Left atria; RV: Right ventricle; LV: Left ventricle; SA: Sino-atrial node; AV: Atrioventricular node; NE: Norepinephrine; ACh: Acetylcholine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Signal transduction systems for β-adrenergic receptor and muscarinic-receptor stimulations in a cardiac myocyte. NE: Norepinephrine; β1: Beta1-adrenergic receptor; Gs: Stimulatory G-protein: Ach: Acetylcholine; m2: Type-2 muscarinic receptors; Gi: Inhibitory G-protein; AC: Adenylate cyclase; PKA: Protein kinase A; ICa,L: L-type Ca channel; RyR2: Ryanodine receptor 2; SERCA: Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase2a; PLB: Phospholamban.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic of cardiovascular reflexes and their influences on heart and vessels functions. NTS: Nucleus tractussolitarii; Symp: Sympathetic; CNS: Central nervous system; RAAS: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Math 4
Math 4
Math(A1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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