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njit-etd2003-081 - New Jersey Institute of Technology

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CHAPTER 2<br />

PHYSIOLOGY BACKGROUND<br />

Biomedical engineering is the application <strong>of</strong> the principles <strong>of</strong> engineering, science, and<br />

mathematics to biology and medicine. In this dissertation the electrical signals or<br />

waveforms are examined because they can yield information <strong>of</strong> clinical significance<br />

about the biological systems. Therefore, in order to conduct biomedical research, the<br />

relevant physiological systems must be understood. The purpose <strong>of</strong> this section is to<br />

provide a general, but concise, background to the physiological systems that are relevant<br />

to the work in this research.<br />

2.1 Cardiovascular Systems and The Heart<br />

The cardiovascular system or simply, the circulatory system [5] consists <strong>of</strong> the heart,<br />

which is a muscular pumping device, and a closed system <strong>of</strong> blood vessels called<br />

arteries, veins, and capillaries. Blood contained in the circulatory system is pumped by<br />

the heart around a closed circle or circuit <strong>of</strong> vessels as it repeatedly passes through the<br />

various "circulations" <strong>of</strong> the body. The vital role <strong>of</strong> the cardiovascular system in<br />

maintaining homeostasis is dependent upon the continuous and controlled movement <strong>of</strong><br />

blood to reach every cell in the body. Regulation <strong>of</strong> blood pressure and flow must<br />

change in response to cellular activity. Consequently, numerous control mechanisms<br />

help to regulate and integrate the diverse functions and component parts <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cardiovascular system to supply blood to specific body areas according to need.<br />

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