Disorders of the Heart Introduction The Heart and Circulation The cardiovascular system is an elaborate network that performs 2 major tasks. Firstly it delivers oxygen and nutrients to body organs and secondly it removes waste products of metabolism from tissue cells. The major components of the heart are a hollow muscular pump and a circulatory system of large and small elastic vessels that transport blood throughout the body. The heart is the central organ of the …showed first 75 words of 3499 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3499 total…in and out of cells. Possible Future Treatment Research has been carried out to demonstrate that genetic alterations of various ion channels produce heritable cardiac arrhythmias that can predispose individuals to sudden death (Eduardo Marban, 2002). The investigation of such channelopathies continues to yield remarkable insights into the molecular basis of cardiac excitability. By recognising the fundamental defects in channelopathies may provide the basis for new strategies of treatment including tailor made pharmacotherapy and gene therapy.