the Lillehei Heart Institute in their funding of illustrator Martin Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their Finch, who prepared several of the original figures; Gary support of my career and their assistance over the years. Without Williams for his computer expertise and assistance with such encouragement, I would not have even dreamed of taking on numerous figures; William Gallagher and Charles Soule, who such an ambitious project. Specifically, I would like to thank my made sure the laboratory kept running smoothly while many of wife Marge, my three daughters, Maria, Jenna, and Hanna, my us were busy writing or editing; Dick Bianco for his support of morn Irene, and siblings, Mike, Chris, Mark, and Susan, for always our lab and this book project; the Chairman of the Department being there for me. On a personal note, some of my motivation for of Surgery, Dr. David Dunn, for his support and encouragement; working on this project comes from the memory of my father and the Biomedical Engineering Institute at the University of Anthony, who succumbed to sudden cardiac death at too early an Minnesota, headed by Dr. Jeffrey McCullough, who supported age, and from the positive encouragement of my uncle Tom Halicki, this project by funding the Cardiovascular Physiology Interest who is doing well seven years after a heart transplant. Group (most of whose members contributed chapters). Paul A. laizzo, PhD Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . V Blood Pressure, Heart Tones, and Diagnoses Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix George Bojanov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .