This text presents a general introduction to soft tissue biomechanics. One of its primary goals is to introduce basic analytical, experimental and computational methods. In doing so, it enables readers to gain a relatively complete understanding of the biomechanics of the heart and vasculature.

1. INTRODUCTION.1.1 Historical Prelude, 1.2 Basic Cell Biology, 1.3 The Extracellular Matrix, 1.4 Soft Tissue Behavior, 1.5 Needs and General Approach, 1.6 Exercises, 1.7 References.
2. MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES
2.1 A Direct Tensor Notation, 2.2 Cartesian Components, 2.3 Further Results in Tensor Calculus, 2.4 Orthogonal Curvilinear Components, 2.5 Matrix Methods, 2.6 Exercises, 2.7 References,
3. CONTINUUM MECHANICS
3.1 Kinematics, 3.2 Forces, Tractions and Stresses, 3.3 Balance Relations, 3.4 Constitutive Formulations, 3.5 Boundary and Initial Conditions, 3.6 Exercises, 3.7 References,
4. FINITE ELASTICITY
4.1 Introduction, 4.2 Incompressible Isotropic Elasticity, 4.3 Solutions in 3-D Incompressible Elasticity,
4.4 Compressible Isotropic Elasticity, 4.5 Membrane Hyperelasticity, 4.6 Exercises, 4.7 References
5. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
5.1 General Philosophy, 5.2 Measurement of Strain, 5.3 Measurement of Applied Loads, 5.4 Testing Conditions, 5.5 Parameter Estimation and Statistics, 5.6 Exercises, 5.7 References
6. Finite Element Methods
6.1 Fundamental Equations, 6.2 Interpolation, Integration, and Solvers, 6.3 An Illustrative Formulation, 6.4 Inflation of a Membrane, 6.5 Inverse Finite Elements, 6.6 Exercises, 6.7 References
PART II - VASCULAR MECHANICS
7. THE NORMAL ARTERIAL WALL
7.1 Structure and Function, 7.2 General Characteristics, 7.3 Constitutive Framework, 7.4 Experimental Methods, 7.5 Specific Constitutive Relations, 7.6 Stress Analyses, 7.7 Exercises, 7.8 References
8. VASCULAR DISORDERS
8.1 Hypertension, 8.2 Intracranial Aneurysms, 8.3 Atherosclerosis, 8.4 Aortic Aneurysms, 8.5 Additional Topics, 8.6 Exercises, 8.7 References
9. VASCULAR ADAPTATION
9.1 Mechanical Preliminaries, 9.2 Cellular Responses to Applied Loads, 9.3 Arterial Response to Hypertension, 9.4 Arterial Response to Altered Flow, 9.5 Vessel Response to Injury, 9.6 Veins as Arterial Grafts, 9.7 Aging, 9.8 Exercises, 9.9 References
PART III CARDIAC MECHANICS
10. THE NORMAL HEART
10.1 Structure and Function, 10.2 General Characteristics, 10.3 Constitutive Framework, 10.4 Constitutive Relations, 10.5 Stress Analyses, 10.6 Exercises, 10.7 References
11. EPILOGUE
APPENDICES
I. Nomenclature, Abbreviations, and Conversions
II. Results for Curvilinear Coordinates
III. Material Frame Indifference
11. CARDIAC DISORDERS
11.1 Ischemia
11.2 Volume Overload
11.3 Hypertrophy
11.4 Cardiac Aneurysms
11.5 Additional Topics