Includes bibliographical references and index.

Structure of the heart and cardiac muscle -- Energetics and energy production -- Energy utilization (work and heat) -- The contractile proteins -- The cytoskeleton -- Active state, length-tension relationship, cardiac mechanics -- Excitation-contraction coupling: extracellular and intracellular calcium cycles -- Signal transduction: functional signaling -- Signal transduction: proliferative signaling -- Regulation of cardiac muscle performance: functional and proliferative mechanisms -- The heart as a muscular pump -- The working heart -- Cardiac ion channels -- The cardiac action potential -- The electrocardiogram -- Arrhythmias -- The ischemic heart -- Heart failure.