This review summarizes recent advances in biochemical integration, structure-function relations, ventricular function assessment, and factors affecting mammalian heart performance.
Primary emphasis in this review will be placed o n recent significant ad vances in the following four areas: Biochemical integration in the myocardial cell (page 47). Structure-function relations in the contractile units of muscle and heart (page 156) . Methods for the assessment of ventricular function (page 161). Factors which affect the performance of the mammalian heart (page 71) . Important topics largely omitted which have received comprehensive review elsewhere include Mommaerts' review of the energetics of muscular contraction (1), Young's analysis of the molecular basis of muscular con traction (2), the review by Katz on contractile proteins of the heart (3) , Korner's review of integrated neural control mechanisms (4) , Johnson & Lieberman's analysis of excita tion-contraction coupling and the structure of the sarcotubular system (5) , and Levy & Berne's review of cardiac neural control and the coronary circulation (6).
Ross et al. (1972) conducted a review in Cardiac contraction. This review summarizes recent advances in biochemical integration, structure-function relations, ventricular function assessment, and factors affecting mammalian heart performance.