Originally published in 1992, this volume looks in detail at the important relationship, initially studied in 1871 by Bowditch, between the strength of the heartbeat and the interval between beats. The book draws together the work and experience of leading international research workers in this field. Collectively, the contributors illuminated the underlying mechanisms involved, their expression in both isolated muscle and the intact heart, and speculate on further avenues of research. The volume will be of interest to cardiologists, physiologists and all those concerned with the function of the heart.

Continuing demand for this book confirms that it remains relevant over 30 years after its first publication. The fundamental explanations are largely unchanged, but in the new introduction to this second edition the authors are on hand to guide the reader through major advances of the last three decades. With an emphasis on physical explanation rather than equations, Part I clearly presents the background mechanics. The second part applies mechanical reasoning to the component parts of the circulation: blood, the heart, the systemic arteries, microcirculation, veins and the pulmonary circulation. Each section demonstrates how an understanding of basic mechanics enhances our understanding of the function of the circulation as a whole. This classic book is of value to students, researchers and practitioners in bioengineering, physiology and human and veterinary medicine, particularly those working in the cardiovascular field, and to engineers and physical scientists with multidisciplinary interests.