The vascular system provides the crucial task of delivering oxygen and nutrients to all of the body's tissues. The proper functioning of the system is made possible by very specific mechanical characteristics that result from the combination of different materials. Vessel walls contain crucial cellular elements that themselves require nutrients and strongly affect the mechanical performance. Arterial mechanics are important in the formation and progression of a number of diseases. In turn, the mechanical properties are affected by disease development. Research in this field is richly challenging because of the complexity of the mechanics and the interaction with biological function.