Abstract: This paper reviews the history and development of the research on residual strains in living tissues.The residual strains in heart and blood vessel are discussed in detail.It is concluded that the existencc of residual strains is a common feature for many living tissties.Residual stresses or risidual strains play very important roles in the meehanical behavior and the functions of organs,and in the tissue remodeling and morphogenesis of organs.