Airway smooth muscle plays a dominant role in bronchial asthma, as well as a significant role in various pulmonary diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and emphysema. Myogenic, neurogenic, and humoral factors control airway smooth-muscle tone. This text provides a state-of-the-art summary and critical discussion of airway smooth muscle from a multidisciplinary point of view. Topics discussed include morphology, biochemical regulation, mechanical and electrophysiological behavior and reflex control of smooth muscle; the epithelium-derived relaxing factor; and methods to...