This book compiles and reorganizes previously published research to give readers a clear overview of how living systems respond to hydrostatic pressure a force present from the deepest oceans to the human body. Although scientists have recognized its importance for decades, many questions remain. By bringing together work from across the field, this volume provides a comprehensive look at both the physical forces involved and the biological processes they influence.

The central theme is how cells sense pressure and convert it into biological signals, a process known as Mechan...