Arterial and Venous Systems in Essential Hypertension

I - Small arteries and the concept of resistance.- Hemodynamic basis for the concept of resistance and impedance in hypertension.- Structural component of vascular resistance in hypertension.- Baroreflex mechanisms and the high pressure system in hypertension.- II - Low pressure system and the concept of venous distensibility.- Venous compliance in essential hypertension.- Functional and structural components of reduced forearm venous disten- sibility in human hypertension.- Cardiac mechanoreceptors in hypertension.- Venous system, extracellular fluid volume and the kidney in essential hypertension.- III - Large vessels and the concept of arterial compliance.- Systolic hypertension in the elderly.- Large arteries in borderline and sustained essential hypertension.- Pulse wave velocity and hypertension.- Renin-angiotensin system and arterial wall in hypertension.- IV - Regional circulations.- The coronary circulation in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy.- Carotido-cerebral circulation in patients with sustained essential hypertension.- Renal circulation in essential hypertension.- Hepato-splanchnic circulation in human hypertension.- V - Forearm circulation as a model for the study of hypertension.- Methods for investigation of forearm blood flow.- The contribution of alpha-1 and alpha-2-adrenoceptor mediated vasoconstriction in essential hypertension as assessed by forearm venous occlusion plethysmography.- Beta-adrenergic receptors and the forearm circulation.- Converting enzyme inhibitors and hypertensive large arteries.- Calcium entry blockers and the forearm arterial bed.- Cations and the forearm circulation in hypertensive humans.- Conclusion.- Homeostatic mechanisms and structural modifications of the cardiovascular system in essential hypertension.- List of contributors.