This is the third volume of the comprehensive series on Struc- ture and Function of the Circulation, edited by Dr. Colin J. Schwartz with the collaboration of Nicholas T. Werthessen and Stewart Wolf. Dr. Schwartz, an authority on vascular structure and function and a respected investigator in this field for many years, selected as authors for the chapters an outstanding group of scientists from various parts of the world. As indicated in the Preface, the impetus for this broad treat- ise evolved from the scientific sessions of three interdisciplinary international conferences held in Lindau...

In order to produce a superior scholarly treatise in bio medical science, three important conditions need to be met. First, the subject needs to be of recognized importance and preferably one in which a sizeable volume of new knowledge has been added recently. Second, it needs to be quite evident that the field involved re quires much more up-to-date coverage than it has received and third, the choice of the editors and in turn the authors needs to be recognized as outstanding. This major treatise fills these criteria in an admirable way. There are few who would deny the importance of...