A comprehensive and systematic survey of the present knowledge of the structure and physiological functions of smooth muscle and its response to endogenous substances and pharmacological agents. The latter includes findings on different organ systems containing smooth muscle - with the exception of the vascular system which, owing to the great amount of new knowledge accumulated in this area in recent years, is treated in a special chapter. In this connection the effect of antihypertensive agents and drugs affecting the coronary and cerebrovascular smooth muscle is also covered. For all those wishing to gain a deeper insight into smooth muscle pharmacology.