There have been remarkable advances in our scientific understanding of the

function of the cardiovascular system in the last couple of decades, many of

which have occurred as a result of scientific research aimed at understanding

cellular and molecular aspects of the cardiovascular system. In addition to better

understanding of the mechanisms of cardiovascular function, in recent years there

has been extensive research and a concomitant increase in our understanding of how

exercise affects the cardiovascular system. These research efforts have led to far better

appreciation of the mechanisms by which exercise provides cardioprotection. Thus,

the purpose of this text is to provide a single resource that (1) offers a clear and concise

explanation of each component of the cardiovascular system—the heart, the vasculature,

and the blood; and (2) systematically details the effect of acute exercise (aerobic

and resistance) and chronic exercise training (aerobic and resistance) on each of the

components of the system. An additional goal is to highlight the complex interaction

of the components of the cardiovascular system, both at rest and during exercise.

This text relies heavily on the latest scientific and medical research to describe

physiological functioning, exercise responses, and adaptations. The text is richly

illustrated with figures to elucidate physiological mechanisms. Graphic presentations

are extensively used to convey scientific data and to depict exercise responses and

training adaptations. Although this text is intended primarily for graduate students

(or advanced undergraduate students) who are studying the effects of exercise on the

cardiovascular system, health care professionals and clinicians will also benefit from

this compilation of research that documents the myriad effects of exercise on this

system. In the text, specific attention is paid to the beneficial effects of exercise on

the various components of the cardiovascular system and the mechanisms by which

regular exercise provides cardioprotection. It is presumed that readers of this text will

have had courses in basic anatomy, physiology, and exercise physiology.