ABSTRACT
The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and the systemic circulation. Although many important organ systems such as the lungs, kidneys, and brain are not part of the cardiovascular system, much of the work in biomedical engineering centers on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, we have chosen to use this system to develop and illustrate some basic principles of biomechanics and hemodynamics, both in large vessels and in the myocardium. These principles can readily be applied to other organ systems, vessels, and cellular processes by considering their individual anatomical arrangements and functional properties.
