Cardiovascular Biomechanics

This book is concerned with cardiovascular biomechanics; this is the study of the function and the structure of the cardiovascular system using the methods of mechanics. It has become clear that this area lies at the heart of all the major cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms; diseases which are responsible for some one-third of world’s deaths. The underpinning principle which will be referred to several times in this book is that the cardiovascular system adapts in order to normalise its own mechanical environment. The cardiovascular system is able to do this because mechanical forces are sensed by tissues, and deviations from 'normal' result in biological changes which affect structure. The study of cardiovascular biomechanics therefore requires an interdisciplinary approach involving biology, medicine, physics, engineering and mathematics.